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The Canary Room: A Novel
In the spring of 1945, a young boy in the Pacific Northwest will make a life-or-death decision.
Every morning, Herman "Hermy" Auerbach awakens to the pre-dawn song of canaries. The porch where he sleeps contains dozens of the songbirds. Outside, in the wider world, the Second World War enters its final, bloody months.
Hermy comes to the Williams' house under protest after his parents' divorce, a result of his father leaving home initially to pursue his impossible dream of becoming an intelligence officer. Herman's mother, remarried to a sailor, abandons her son to move across the country and start another family with her new husband. By the time he takes up residency in the canary room, Hermy has already suffered both from abandonment and bullying.
Life with the large, messy Williams clan offers Hermy little relief, although he bonds with the other boys in the family. When the boys hatch a wild escape plan, Hermy finds himself facing death, and deciding if his life is worth the struggle to survive after losing everything.
A compelling story of one boy's struggle to survive the uncertainties of foster care and the war, The Canary Room brings to life the daily challenges of life on the US home front in vivid, historically accurate detail.
Every morning, Herman "Hermy" Auerbach awakens to the pre-dawn song of canaries. The porch where he sleeps contains dozens of the songbirds. Outside, in the wider world, the Second World War enters its final, bloody months.
Hermy comes to the Williams' house under protest after his parents' divorce, a result of his father leaving home initially to pursue his impossible dream of becoming an intelligence officer. Herman's mother, remarried to a sailor, abandons her son to move across the country and start another family with her new husband. By the time he takes up residency in the canary room, Hermy has already suffered both from abandonment and bullying.
Life with the large, messy Williams clan offers Hermy little relief, although he bonds with the other boys in the family. When the boys hatch a wild escape plan, Hermy finds himself facing death, and deciding if his life is worth the struggle to survive after losing everything.
A compelling story of one boy's struggle to survive the uncertainties of foster care and the war, The Canary Room brings to life the daily challenges of life on the US home front in vivid, historically accurate detail.
281 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 28, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
March 30, 2015
In their debut novel, set in 1945 Idaho, the Casebeers create a vivid wartime backdrop for the story of a twelve-year-old boy in an unstable family situation. Based in part on Edwin’s childhood, the novel is rich with animal imagery and period slang. Inner monologues with a noteworthy stream-of-consciousness style trace the coming of age of a foster child during World War II.
The novel sets up a lucid contrast between Hermy’s all-American boyhood with the Williams family and his disturbing past. Typesetting distinguishes past from present, and internal dialogue from real life: Hermy’s thoughts are in bold, flashbacks are in italics, and past thoughts are in bold italics. At times, this strategy seems overcomplicated and makes the narrative feel fragmented, yet it allows for clever parallels.
(See my full review at Foreword.)
The novel sets up a lucid contrast between Hermy’s all-American boyhood with the Williams family and his disturbing past. Typesetting distinguishes past from present, and internal dialogue from real life: Hermy’s thoughts are in bold, flashbacks are in italics, and past thoughts are in bold italics. At times, this strategy seems overcomplicated and makes the narrative feel fragmented, yet it allows for clever parallels.
(See my full review at Foreword.)
December 18, 2014
I won this book through Goodreads' giveaway program in exchange for an honest review.
Some sentences were written in italics, others in bold, others in normal formatting.
There didn't seem to be any reasoning for the change in formatting. Thoughts were both italic and regular, and conversations were bold, italic and regular, so this left me utterly confused.
There was a space between almost every sentence and section of the book.
Even if I could get passed that, which I couldn't, there was no discernible plot emerging. Fifty pages in, there was nothing interesting me to keep me reading.
The writing was all telling and no showing. The authors forgot to explain what the main character was feeling through descriptive writing. Instead, he told us what he felt in the most basic way possible.
There was no way I could finish this book.
Some sentences were written in italics, others in bold, others in normal formatting.
There didn't seem to be any reasoning for the change in formatting. Thoughts were both italic and regular, and conversations were bold, italic and regular, so this left me utterly confused.
There was a space between almost every sentence and section of the book.
Even if I could get passed that, which I couldn't, there was no discernible plot emerging. Fifty pages in, there was nothing interesting me to keep me reading.
The writing was all telling and no showing. The authors forgot to explain what the main character was feeling through descriptive writing. Instead, he told us what he felt in the most basic way possible.
There was no way I could finish this book.
June 17, 2015
***I’ll try to mark spoilers, but be forewarned!***
First off, I got this book free on Goodreads First Reads. Thank you to the authors, Edwin and Linda Casebeer, for offering a copy of their book! (And I’m sorry I didn’t like it.)
When I write a book review, I try to start out by listing positives. But honestly, I couldn’t find much of that for THE CANARY ROOM. Perhaps the only character I halfway appreciated was Sonny, and even he was disappointing/annoying. Also, I enjoyed the (brief) addition of the waltzing mouse because I have a soft spot for rodents. But that was about it.
Usually I decide a book’s rating midway through and modify it based on the ending, but from the very first page I knew I was going to give THE CANARY ROOM only one star, and I never questioned my judgement on that. To begin with, it took me a few pages to figure out the formatting, which is unfortunate. Those first few pages are essential for pulling in the reader and absorbing them into the story, but that can’t happen if the reader is too busy trying to figure out the method to the author’s formatting madness (this is more a note for those who self-publish or operate their own small press; you don’t normally find this problem in professionally managed books). If the reader spends those crucial first few minutes confused and frustrated, then the author has lost his or her chance for a good first impression.
The next issue I noticed, once I figured out that the plain font is current narrative, bold plain font is current thought, italic is past narrative, and bold italic is past thought, I got side-tracked by the disjointed prose. The authors drag the story back and forth between past and present so quickly, I started out with a pretty serious case of literary whiplash. When writing a scene, an author’s first goal is to ground the reader in a sense of place and time—to let them know what’s happening. But THE CANARY ROOM jumped around so often, without much rhyme or reason, that I could hardly figure out what was going on or why I should care. (And I’m not saying this to be harsh—I just want to be honest.) Another issue that made it even more difficult is that the flashbacks are written in present tense, while the actual narration is written in past tense.
Now on to the emotional disconnect. Herman’s (our main character’s) thoughts are given in bold, but often those thoughts are as disjointed as the rest of the narrative. Mere words and phrases pass for what is going on inside his head, and I couldn’t get a feel for his voice and his personality. While it’s important not to get bogged down telling the reader everything the main character is feeling, we do need to establish an emotional connection somehow. Honestly, I never felt that. I just felt like some distant observer watching a stranger do random things. Oh, I sympathized with Herman because he’s clearly had an awful life, but feeling sorry for someone doesn’t make me like them or care to read about them. And it doesn’t make me understand them or see the world through their eyes.
The characters—gah, the characters were so nasty, so horrible to each other. Of course I’m fine with snotty characters who mistreat each other—that’s part of life, so it should be part of story. But no one was nice—no one. Well, maybe Rose and Helen, but their parts were brief. So let’s list the issues: we have little kids swearing at each other, we have bullies, and we have main characters—so people portrayed as the good guys—who are racist. (I know that last one is a touchy subject, and I understand there were issues between the Americans and the Japanese during WWII, which is when this story takes place. But that’s a super painful subject that ought to be dealt with carefully and tactfully. Even Herman, who once had a Japanese friend, does not defend this boy as a human being or even seem to care when people speak ill of him. Instead, he also seems to look down on him. And when the only way racism is handled is with the inclusion of a few insulting names and remarks, a part of the audience gets alienated.)
Herman is not your model twelve-year-old, and it was painful to see the way he behaved. He smokes; he swears; he gambles; he has a tattoo. People—he’s twelve! He should be playing soccer and hanging out with his friends and making tree houses. He’s too young to be that worldly, that grown-up. And honestly, he just never sounded like a twelve-year-old. I kept second guessing the back flap copy that gave his age, wondering if I’d misinterpreted something.
Also, Herman has the most depressing life. Throughout the book, he keeps listing off all these pets who died in horrible ways—Gypsy the rat who gets shot off his shoulder, his dog who gets hit by a car, and Tank the turtle who dies when bullies burn his eyes out. Plus he’s lost a squirrel and another mouse. It’s so depressing it’s almost comical.
So Herman has had a tough time of it, and I’d hoped the story would deal with these things, but it doesn’t. It mentions all his issues, multiple times. Herman’s parents are divorced, he’s been shot, he’s had polio, he was bullied, etc… But the book feels more like a perpetual pity party than anything else. It never really explores these issues—it just lists them and moves on. As a literary novel, I’d expected more from it. Instead, I came away feeling empty.
I get the feeling this was supposed to be stream-of-consciousness, but I hardly felt like I knew Herman when it was all over. He doesn’t grow or change as a person. He doesn’t discover new truths about himself and the world. He doesn’t learn from his experiences. All his hurts are glossed over. Barely anything of interest happens until near the end, and along the way, Herman’s backstory is repeated far too often.
Now, I realize I’m being super picky, but I also had issue with the title, THE CANARY ROOM. Sure, Herman lives in a room filled with canaries, but this room and these canaries hardly feature in the plot. When they do show up, it’s more for description, and the purpose/impact of the canary room is never explained. I kept expecting something important to happen with regards to the canary room—maybe the birds were supposed to help him heal or at least cope. Nope, nada. They were just there. And now the book is named after them.
In the end, there’s no resolution, no promise that stuff is going to be fixed or dealt with. No character arcs have been wrapped up (the character arcs are more just flat lines, anyway, since no one changes or grows or regresses—they simply exist). The story just finishes, and that’s that. Furthermore, the final note feels discordant.
Long story short, I know others have enjoyed this book immensely, and to that I say, more power to you. THE CANARY ROOM is clearly not for everyone, though, and while I’d never dream of telling you what you should or shouldn’t read, I will say that I do not recommend this book at all. There are so many other novels that deal with these and other issues in deeper and more nuanced ways.
First off, I got this book free on Goodreads First Reads. Thank you to the authors, Edwin and Linda Casebeer, for offering a copy of their book! (And I’m sorry I didn’t like it.)
When I write a book review, I try to start out by listing positives. But honestly, I couldn’t find much of that for THE CANARY ROOM. Perhaps the only character I halfway appreciated was Sonny, and even he was disappointing/annoying. Also, I enjoyed the (brief) addition of the waltzing mouse because I have a soft spot for rodents. But that was about it.
Usually I decide a book’s rating midway through and modify it based on the ending, but from the very first page I knew I was going to give THE CANARY ROOM only one star, and I never questioned my judgement on that. To begin with, it took me a few pages to figure out the formatting, which is unfortunate. Those first few pages are essential for pulling in the reader and absorbing them into the story, but that can’t happen if the reader is too busy trying to figure out the method to the author’s formatting madness (this is more a note for those who self-publish or operate their own small press; you don’t normally find this problem in professionally managed books). If the reader spends those crucial first few minutes confused and frustrated, then the author has lost his or her chance for a good first impression.
The next issue I noticed, once I figured out that the plain font is current narrative, bold plain font is current thought, italic is past narrative, and bold italic is past thought, I got side-tracked by the disjointed prose. The authors drag the story back and forth between past and present so quickly, I started out with a pretty serious case of literary whiplash. When writing a scene, an author’s first goal is to ground the reader in a sense of place and time—to let them know what’s happening. But THE CANARY ROOM jumped around so often, without much rhyme or reason, that I could hardly figure out what was going on or why I should care. (And I’m not saying this to be harsh—I just want to be honest.) Another issue that made it even more difficult is that the flashbacks are written in present tense, while the actual narration is written in past tense.
Now on to the emotional disconnect. Herman’s (our main character’s) thoughts are given in bold, but often those thoughts are as disjointed as the rest of the narrative. Mere words and phrases pass for what is going on inside his head, and I couldn’t get a feel for his voice and his personality. While it’s important not to get bogged down telling the reader everything the main character is feeling, we do need to establish an emotional connection somehow. Honestly, I never felt that. I just felt like some distant observer watching a stranger do random things. Oh, I sympathized with Herman because he’s clearly had an awful life, but feeling sorry for someone doesn’t make me like them or care to read about them. And it doesn’t make me understand them or see the world through their eyes.
The characters—gah, the characters were so nasty, so horrible to each other. Of course I’m fine with snotty characters who mistreat each other—that’s part of life, so it should be part of story. But no one was nice—no one. Well, maybe Rose and Helen, but their parts were brief. So let’s list the issues: we have little kids swearing at each other, we have bullies, and we have main characters—so people portrayed as the good guys—who are racist. (I know that last one is a touchy subject, and I understand there were issues between the Americans and the Japanese during WWII, which is when this story takes place. But that’s a super painful subject that ought to be dealt with carefully and tactfully. Even Herman, who once had a Japanese friend, does not defend this boy as a human being or even seem to care when people speak ill of him. Instead, he also seems to look down on him. And when the only way racism is handled is with the inclusion of a few insulting names and remarks, a part of the audience gets alienated.)
Herman is not your model twelve-year-old, and it was painful to see the way he behaved. He smokes; he swears; he gambles; he has a tattoo. People—he’s twelve! He should be playing soccer and hanging out with his friends and making tree houses. He’s too young to be that worldly, that grown-up. And honestly, he just never sounded like a twelve-year-old. I kept second guessing the back flap copy that gave his age, wondering if I’d misinterpreted something.
Also, Herman has the most depressing life. Throughout the book, he keeps listing off all these pets who died in horrible ways—Gypsy the rat who gets shot off his shoulder, his dog who gets hit by a car, and Tank the turtle who dies when bullies burn his eyes out. Plus he’s lost a squirrel and another mouse. It’s so depressing it’s almost comical.
So Herman has had a tough time of it, and I’d hoped the story would deal with these things, but it doesn’t. It mentions all his issues, multiple times. Herman’s parents are divorced, he’s been shot, he’s had polio, he was bullied, etc… But the book feels more like a perpetual pity party than anything else. It never really explores these issues—it just lists them and moves on. As a literary novel, I’d expected more from it. Instead, I came away feeling empty.
I get the feeling this was supposed to be stream-of-consciousness, but I hardly felt like I knew Herman when it was all over. He doesn’t grow or change as a person. He doesn’t discover new truths about himself and the world. He doesn’t learn from his experiences. All his hurts are glossed over. Barely anything of interest happens until near the end, and along the way, Herman’s backstory is repeated far too often.
Now, I realize I’m being super picky, but I also had issue with the title, THE CANARY ROOM. Sure, Herman lives in a room filled with canaries, but this room and these canaries hardly feature in the plot. When they do show up, it’s more for description, and the purpose/impact of the canary room is never explained. I kept expecting something important to happen with regards to the canary room—maybe the birds were supposed to help him heal or at least cope. Nope, nada. They were just there. And now the book is named after them.
In the end, there’s no resolution, no promise that stuff is going to be fixed or dealt with. No character arcs have been wrapped up (the character arcs are more just flat lines, anyway, since no one changes or grows or regresses—they simply exist). The story just finishes, and that’s that. Furthermore, the final note feels discordant.
Long story short, I know others have enjoyed this book immensely, and to that I say, more power to you. THE CANARY ROOM is clearly not for everyone, though, and while I’d never dream of telling you what you should or shouldn’t read, I will say that I do not recommend this book at all. There are so many other novels that deal with these and other issues in deeper and more nuanced ways.
February 17, 2015
This review can originally be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/20...
When I began this book I didn’t know it was written in a stream of consciousness style. At first that was pretty hard for me to adapt to, but after two chapters I was loved it. I am someone who likes books which try something unique or different, and this style was just that, and done well. It might not be for everyone, but it was for me J It also meant there were three different fonts: one for flashbacks, one for thoughts, one for present day.
I will admit that the only bad thing about this book is that it isn’t for people who need several plot twists to keep going. This book doesn’t have much of a plot really, but it’s more about gradually revealing what Hermy had to live through in his past and all the struggles he had to face. It wasn’t anything troublesome happening in the present. So I will say that this book is something strictly for those who like character driven novels, and not plot driven ones.
BUT that doesn’t mean that this book isn’t good. There are some lovely characters in there, like Sonny who is always influenced by his older brothers and maintains that childish innocence about him. Hermy is a boy beyond his years as well. Sandy was also one of my favourite characters, because although he could’ve left Hermy on his own when his mother didn’t show up, he didn’t. Even though Hermy had gone through an awful lot in his life and been let down quite a bit, Sandy was always a constant there for him, and was such a good and loyal friend. I liked him a lot ^.^ Hermy was also a character who had a lot of thoughts, but didn't always speak them.
One word of warning is that there is quite a bit of colourful language used here, due to one character who has a tendency to use those words. So if you try to avoid that, then this book might not be for you. Also, I think this book did a good job of portraying everyday citizens opinions on the war and what happened at Pearl Harbour. It’s a theme that runs through the book, but isn’t the main focus.
Overall, I don’t have too much to say. I liked it a lot :D Oh, and isn’t that cover amazing?
When I began this book I didn’t know it was written in a stream of consciousness style. At first that was pretty hard for me to adapt to, but after two chapters I was loved it. I am someone who likes books which try something unique or different, and this style was just that, and done well. It might not be for everyone, but it was for me J It also meant there were three different fonts: one for flashbacks, one for thoughts, one for present day.
I will admit that the only bad thing about this book is that it isn’t for people who need several plot twists to keep going. This book doesn’t have much of a plot really, but it’s more about gradually revealing what Hermy had to live through in his past and all the struggles he had to face. It wasn’t anything troublesome happening in the present. So I will say that this book is something strictly for those who like character driven novels, and not plot driven ones.
BUT that doesn’t mean that this book isn’t good. There are some lovely characters in there, like Sonny who is always influenced by his older brothers and maintains that childish innocence about him. Hermy is a boy beyond his years as well. Sandy was also one of my favourite characters, because although he could’ve left Hermy on his own when his mother didn’t show up, he didn’t. Even though Hermy had gone through an awful lot in his life and been let down quite a bit, Sandy was always a constant there for him, and was such a good and loyal friend. I liked him a lot ^.^ Hermy was also a character who had a lot of thoughts, but didn't always speak them.
One word of warning is that there is quite a bit of colourful language used here, due to one character who has a tendency to use those words. So if you try to avoid that, then this book might not be for you. Also, I think this book did a good job of portraying everyday citizens opinions on the war and what happened at Pearl Harbour. It’s a theme that runs through the book, but isn’t the main focus.
Overall, I don’t have too much to say. I liked it a lot :D Oh, and isn’t that cover amazing?
February 11, 2017
I received a free copy of The Canary Room through Goodreads in exchange for a review. Thanks Edwin and Linda Casebeer.
Sets in 1945 during the final months of World War II, the book is about the perspective of war through a 12 years old boy; very sad and depressing read but deep and emotional in its own way of storytelling! The plot and content of the book was great and very strange. It has a new style and format of writing which flip back and forth in time, easy for me to follow it and I didn't find the different fonts as confusing as some readers.
Spent eight years of my childhood in war, I partially could understand the taste of bitterness, hopelessness, pain and unsure future. I felt very sorry for Herman, his divorced parents abandoned him; he wants them back badly but has no choice other than living with relatives or strangers.
At the beginning, I couldn’t get close to charters, but eventually I was able to connect with Herman’s thoughts, his personality, and other characters a well.
What will become of Hermy? I am pondering this question since I closed the book! There was no promise at the end … and it just finished chaotic!
This book wasn’t to my taste although I can recommend it to certain readers which I have no clue what should I call them, maybe those who are interested in human/character focused type of stories; but I definitely can say the canary room is not for everyone.
Sets in 1945 during the final months of World War II, the book is about the perspective of war through a 12 years old boy; very sad and depressing read but deep and emotional in its own way of storytelling! The plot and content of the book was great and very strange. It has a new style and format of writing which flip back and forth in time, easy for me to follow it and I didn't find the different fonts as confusing as some readers.
Spent eight years of my childhood in war, I partially could understand the taste of bitterness, hopelessness, pain and unsure future. I felt very sorry for Herman, his divorced parents abandoned him; he wants them back badly but has no choice other than living with relatives or strangers.
At the beginning, I couldn’t get close to charters, but eventually I was able to connect with Herman’s thoughts, his personality, and other characters a well.
What will become of Hermy? I am pondering this question since I closed the book! There was no promise at the end … and it just finished chaotic!
This book wasn’t to my taste although I can recommend it to certain readers which I have no clue what should I call them, maybe those who are interested in human/character focused type of stories; but I definitely can say the canary room is not for everyone.
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January 24, 2020I won a copy of this book during a Goodreads giveaway. I am under no obligation to leave a review or rating and do so voluntarily. So that others may also enjoy this book, I am paying it forward by donating it to my local library.
January 6, 2015
I received a free copy of this book from Goodreads in exchange for a review. I'm not sure what I was expecting when I started reading the book but the first thing that told me this was going to be a strange book was when I saw the formatting with italics and bold applied generously. Aside from the formatting of the book, the content was weirdly good but not for everyone.
The Canary Room is set in 1945 near the end of the second world war. Hermy is living with a family that is not his own. Because his father is pursuing dreams that will probably never happen, and his mother met and remarried a young man and wants to start a new family. This is Hermy second home, the last one being borderline torture. Watch Hermy struggle to survive a life with strangers, being bullied, and being abandoned by both parents but there is joy in between.
I'm going to jump on the italics and bold throughout the book, because I was really confused at first and for a while sat and stared at it wondering what was happening, because they are usually there for memories and other things that are needed but don’t fit in with the main story line. I feel like their might have been a better way to go about it, but I'm sure it was decided on this because of how confusing it must have been for Hermy with everything going on.
I was just amazed at how well the authors captured life in this. I felt Hermy's pain, I don't usually hurt with the characters I just sympathized but I felt his pain throughout the novel. There are instances throughout the book that you might recognize in your own life. Which is mainly what made the book so good.
The book is not an adventurous one, besides the ending and near the ending. Actually it starts slow and keeps going slowly. Yes there are little tid-bits that are interesting and worth reading but for the most part it's just life playing out, which is partially why the authors captured life so well. Still it made it hard to be interested in the book a lot of the time.
If you need fast paced adventure and a heroine in a bikini, this book is not for you but if you like something very close to life with beautiful characters this book is for you.
The Canary Room is set in 1945 near the end of the second world war. Hermy is living with a family that is not his own. Because his father is pursuing dreams that will probably never happen, and his mother met and remarried a young man and wants to start a new family. This is Hermy second home, the last one being borderline torture. Watch Hermy struggle to survive a life with strangers, being bullied, and being abandoned by both parents but there is joy in between.
I'm going to jump on the italics and bold throughout the book, because I was really confused at first and for a while sat and stared at it wondering what was happening, because they are usually there for memories and other things that are needed but don’t fit in with the main story line. I feel like their might have been a better way to go about it, but I'm sure it was decided on this because of how confusing it must have been for Hermy with everything going on.
I was just amazed at how well the authors captured life in this. I felt Hermy's pain, I don't usually hurt with the characters I just sympathized but I felt his pain throughout the novel. There are instances throughout the book that you might recognize in your own life. Which is mainly what made the book so good.
The book is not an adventurous one, besides the ending and near the ending. Actually it starts slow and keeps going slowly. Yes there are little tid-bits that are interesting and worth reading but for the most part it's just life playing out, which is partially why the authors captured life so well. Still it made it hard to be interested in the book a lot of the time.
If you need fast paced adventure and a heroine in a bikini, this book is not for you but if you like something very close to life with beautiful characters this book is for you.
June 4, 2015
Original review can be found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...
**I received a copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.**
There could have been a beautiful story here but it got totally lost in the style and writing. First off, it was completely over written and complicated. The way in which it was delivered was a mess. I had to double check because I thought maybe I had an ARC with the different sized fonts, bold type and italic. It went back and forth between stories, characters and situations without any warning so much that I couldn't keep track of everything. It felt a little like an English assignment in school that was almost impossible to get a good mark on because it was so much work. A good book shouldn't require so much work. I felt like the author was trying too hard to prove his talent but in the effort alienated the audience.
I feel bad because the actual story had great potential. It was the way that it was delivered that basically ruined it for me. If it was just told in a straight forward, less messy way it might have stood a chance. Reading a book shouldn't feel like an assignment and this one did. It took the pleasure right out of it.
I am giving it 2 stars based on the story that I did find hidden in it.
**I received a copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.**
There could have been a beautiful story here but it got totally lost in the style and writing. First off, it was completely over written and complicated. The way in which it was delivered was a mess. I had to double check because I thought maybe I had an ARC with the different sized fonts, bold type and italic. It went back and forth between stories, characters and situations without any warning so much that I couldn't keep track of everything. It felt a little like an English assignment in school that was almost impossible to get a good mark on because it was so much work. A good book shouldn't require so much work. I felt like the author was trying too hard to prove his talent but in the effort alienated the audience.
I feel bad because the actual story had great potential. It was the way that it was delivered that basically ruined it for me. If it was just told in a straight forward, less messy way it might have stood a chance. Reading a book shouldn't feel like an assignment and this one did. It took the pleasure right out of it.
I am giving it 2 stars based on the story that I did find hidden in it.
December 20, 2014
To tell the truth, this book's constant switch between standard print, italics, and bold print was somewhat confusing and discombobulating, but maybe that's exactly the reaction the authors were hoping to achieve. After all, life during WWII was pretty darned confusing and discombobulating, too, and it would have been even more so for a twelve-year-old boy whose father left him to flounder on his own in a foster home. In following young Hermie as he struggles to make sense of his life, the book shifts willy nilly from his disjointed stream-of-consciousness thoughts, to his present goings-on, to memories of his past, making this reader feel like she was floundering right along with him.
I guess I'd call this book an example of an experimental style of writing. The authors are obviously quite talented, and the story is one worth telling, but I don't know that this particular style was my cuppa tea. The book does a great job portraying the unsettled... and unsettling... nature of 1945, and the characters were well-developed, but I would have preferred a more straightforward and linear approach. However, I think many others will find this style of writing to be not only effective, but downright brilliant.
As for me, I'd give it three and a half stars.
I guess I'd call this book an example of an experimental style of writing. The authors are obviously quite talented, and the story is one worth telling, but I don't know that this particular style was my cuppa tea. The book does a great job portraying the unsettled... and unsettling... nature of 1945, and the characters were well-developed, but I would have preferred a more straightforward and linear approach. However, I think many others will find this style of writing to be not only effective, but downright brilliant.
As for me, I'd give it three and a half stars.
August 21, 2015
Sometimes I think I'm too optimistic when it's about books. I believe that a slow beginning is not an obstacle to keep me reading until the end... Well, it seems that this book is the exception.
If this book were a body, it'd be a body without a head, arms and legs. You never know where the story starts, where is the climax or how the heck you get to the end. So, I did a list of the things I didn't like of this dismembered body:
-The bold, italic, and underlined text made the narrative weird.
-The story has so many points of view that you never fully understand who is the narrator.
-There is no reason to keep reading. There are just pages and pages full of words without any sense.
-Is this an adult, young adult or a whatever book?
-There are no twists in the story.
In conclusion: I don't recommend this book. Seriously, go ahead and buy another one!
I won this book through GoodReads and I thank to the authors for providing me this copy but this fact didn't influence the review.
If this book were a body, it'd be a body without a head, arms and legs. You never know where the story starts, where is the climax or how the heck you get to the end. So, I did a list of the things I didn't like of this dismembered body:
-The bold, italic, and underlined text made the narrative weird.
-The story has so many points of view that you never fully understand who is the narrator.
-There is no reason to keep reading. There are just pages and pages full of words without any sense.
-Is this an adult, young adult or a whatever book?
-There are no twists in the story.
In conclusion: I don't recommend this book. Seriously, go ahead and buy another one!
I won this book through GoodReads and I thank to the authors for providing me this copy but this fact didn't influence the review.
December 9, 2014
I was given a copy of this book for an honest review.
This is a well written story of Herman "Hermy" Auerbach, who is basically unwanted and abandoned by both of his parents for their own selfish reasons. The setting is the end of WWII, the really gruesome part. Hermy is left to live with the William's family and the other boys they are fostering. Hermy, for all of his 12 years is a remarkable and brave child. He is on a quest to figure out who he is. The All American boy has some troubling past that you get caught up in. Does Hermy find himself? What happened to his dad?
I enjoyed the history that the book included, as well as the slang from the past. It had a Leave it to Beaver quality to it. Simpler times, but yet a harsh past. At the William's house is was Leave it to Beaver but in the world outside it was hard, rough, and bullying.
The ending kind of hinted at book #2. I hope this is true, I'd love to read more.
This is a well written story of Herman "Hermy" Auerbach, who is basically unwanted and abandoned by both of his parents for their own selfish reasons. The setting is the end of WWII, the really gruesome part. Hermy is left to live with the William's family and the other boys they are fostering. Hermy, for all of his 12 years is a remarkable and brave child. He is on a quest to figure out who he is. The All American boy has some troubling past that you get caught up in. Does Hermy find himself? What happened to his dad?
I enjoyed the history that the book included, as well as the slang from the past. It had a Leave it to Beaver quality to it. Simpler times, but yet a harsh past. At the William's house is was Leave it to Beaver but in the world outside it was hard, rough, and bullying.
The ending kind of hinted at book #2. I hope this is true, I'd love to read more.
October 24, 2014
Given To Me For An Honest Review
Edwin and Linda Casebeer's book The Canary Room: A Novel is a must read. It is set in World War II when a young boy is living with so much fear and uncertainty. This book will grab you from the beginning, keep you stuck on your seat and then you will become a page turner over and over again. It will keep you wondering and it will end in a discussion of life or death. There is a young boy who is the main character and he is trying to find out who he is in an unstable life. This book is so well written that once you have finished it you will re-read it again. I enjoyed reading it. I highly recommend it to all. I look for more from Edwin and Linda Casebeer.
Edwin and Linda Casebeer's book The Canary Room: A Novel is a must read. It is set in World War II when a young boy is living with so much fear and uncertainty. This book will grab you from the beginning, keep you stuck on your seat and then you will become a page turner over and over again. It will keep you wondering and it will end in a discussion of life or death. There is a young boy who is the main character and he is trying to find out who he is in an unstable life. This book is so well written that once you have finished it you will re-read it again. I enjoyed reading it. I highly recommend it to all. I look for more from Edwin and Linda Casebeer.
February 15, 2015
I received a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. I got to page 54 and just could not continue this novel. The different font treatments are aggravating and sometime the font is so small it is hard to read the text. The story just did not grab me enough to continue. Although this novel was not for me; it doesn't mean that it is not for you. This novel is about the life of a 12 year old whose parents are divorced and he is asked to live with another family during the months that follow the attack on Pearl Harbour. It deals with Herman's way to adapt to the separation, to the repercussions of the war and more.
December 5, 2014
This is a well written novel with a very human element entwined within each character. It is evident there is historical research or personal experiences, or both. Moments are sad so bring your tissue box when you read this one. The elegant writing style pulls the reader in from the first page and keeps them engaged throughout the story. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion.
October 29, 2014
The Canary Room was a very engaging, and insightful book. I found myself immediately immersed in the story, and excited to see what would happen next. I would recommend this book to anyone that is looking for a good relaxing read.
June 29, 2015
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway.
I really tried to get used to the strange font changes and back and forth narrative. Attempting to do so made reading for pleasure a bit too complicated and I gave up a little past the half way point.
I really tried to get used to the strange font changes and back and forth narrative. Attempting to do so made reading for pleasure a bit too complicated and I gave up a little past the half way point.
February 13, 2021
I won this book on Goodreads a long time ago and misplaced it. When I found it, I started reading it along with several other books I was currently reading. I have to admit that I did not finish it. While the basic premise was good, the book was hard to follow. I could not get past the changes in the fonts between italics, bold, and regular print and whether it was talking about the past or the present.
January 20, 2015
"The Canary Room" which I won through Goodreads Giveaways is a compelling, historically- based novel that begins in 1945 when Herman "Hermy" Auerbach is fostered in the Williams' household after his parent's divorce and abandonment. Although he's consigned to the porch with dozens of canaries Hermy feels more secure in an environment where he's not being bullied or shot at by a demented uncle, and quickly bonds with eight year old Sonny, his brother Max as well as their other young boarder Charlie Como. Set against the backdrop of WWII the story highlights a twelve year old boy's struggle to overcome his misery after being abandoned by his parents, and his misgivings about his foster care.
In the last months of a bloody war with Japan, the mood of those living in Boise is one of anger and bitterness for a death toll that includes sons, relatives and neighbours. In this atmosphere Hermy Auerbach struggles with the loss of his family because of shattered dreams that resulted in divorce and an ugly custody case. Cleverly the authors juxtapose the crushing impact of the war with its death toll, housing and food shortages, and vegetable gardens, against its effect on Hermy and his father. When denied entry to the war effort as an intelligence officer, Jake Auerbach turns to woman and alcohol for solace, destroying his marriage and the family home that his son still craves. Although the story is intense, filled with heartbreak, despair, pain and hopelessness, it's often diluted with Hermy's courage and humorous anecdotes.
The plot is emotionally-charged and gripping as the twelve year old recalls memories of a past where he's not only bullied, shot at, lived in a storage closet at a baseball park, but has lost several pets that were as close as friends. In a unique writing style the authors use italics, normal script and bold italics to denote past experiences and Hermy's thoughts from his present life. This heavily influences the flow of the story, making it hard to follow.
Like the story line the characters are well-developed, realistic and unforgettable with all their flaws and faults. Herman Auerbach who had polio is insecure, lacks self-esteem feels rejected and indulges in alcohol and cigarettes. He equates courage to fighting back, especially when Gladys Williams gossips about his mother, but is grateful for Max and Charlie's intervention with those who bully him. Jake and Hope Auerbach are the negligent parents who selfishly and futilely pursue their own dreams and desire for happiness, leaving their son in the care of virtual strangers. Among a score of other characters is Sonny the spirited eight year old who wisely befriends Hermy; Max his bitter, angry brother who yearns to enlist and Charlie the tough and smart-mouthed young boarder. All these personalities add to the intensity, drama and passion of a riveting story.
"The Canary Room" is a fascinating novel that merges the cruelty of war and its tragic consequences on the life of a young boy who like the canaries on the porch shows not only determination but a stubborn will to survive the most harrowing experiences so he too can fly free.
In the last months of a bloody war with Japan, the mood of those living in Boise is one of anger and bitterness for a death toll that includes sons, relatives and neighbours. In this atmosphere Hermy Auerbach struggles with the loss of his family because of shattered dreams that resulted in divorce and an ugly custody case. Cleverly the authors juxtapose the crushing impact of the war with its death toll, housing and food shortages, and vegetable gardens, against its effect on Hermy and his father. When denied entry to the war effort as an intelligence officer, Jake Auerbach turns to woman and alcohol for solace, destroying his marriage and the family home that his son still craves. Although the story is intense, filled with heartbreak, despair, pain and hopelessness, it's often diluted with Hermy's courage and humorous anecdotes.
The plot is emotionally-charged and gripping as the twelve year old recalls memories of a past where he's not only bullied, shot at, lived in a storage closet at a baseball park, but has lost several pets that were as close as friends. In a unique writing style the authors use italics, normal script and bold italics to denote past experiences and Hermy's thoughts from his present life. This heavily influences the flow of the story, making it hard to follow.
Like the story line the characters are well-developed, realistic and unforgettable with all their flaws and faults. Herman Auerbach who had polio is insecure, lacks self-esteem feels rejected and indulges in alcohol and cigarettes. He equates courage to fighting back, especially when Gladys Williams gossips about his mother, but is grateful for Max and Charlie's intervention with those who bully him. Jake and Hope Auerbach are the negligent parents who selfishly and futilely pursue their own dreams and desire for happiness, leaving their son in the care of virtual strangers. Among a score of other characters is Sonny the spirited eight year old who wisely befriends Hermy; Max his bitter, angry brother who yearns to enlist and Charlie the tough and smart-mouthed young boarder. All these personalities add to the intensity, drama and passion of a riveting story.
"The Canary Room" is a fascinating novel that merges the cruelty of war and its tragic consequences on the life of a young boy who like the canaries on the porch shows not only determination but a stubborn will to survive the most harrowing experiences so he too can fly free.
June 27, 2015
I received this book via a goodreads.com giveaway. With this as the book description:
“In the spring of 1945, a young boy in the Pacific Northwest will make a life-or-death decision. Every morning, Herman "Hermy" Auerbach awakens to the pre-dawn song of canaries. The porch where he sleeps contains dozens of the songbirds. Outside, in the wider world, the Second World War enters its final, bloody months. Hermy comes to the Williams' house under protest after his parents' divorce, a result of his father leaving home initially to pursue his impossible dream of becoming an intelligence officer. Herman's mother, remarried to a sailor, abandons her son to move across the country and start another family with her new husband. By the time he takes up residency in the canary room, Hermy has already suffered both from abandonment and bullying. Life with the large, messy Williams clan offers Hermy little relief, although he bonds with the other boys in the family. When the boys hatch a wild escape plan, Hermy finds himself facing death, and deciding if his life is worth the struggle to survive after losing everything. A compelling story of one boy's struggle to survive the uncertainties of foster care and the war, The Canary Room brings to life the daily challenges of life on the US home front in vivid, historically accurate detail.”
…I was extremely excited about receiving the book. That excitement was soon turned into discouragement.
This book was not at all what I expected. I love to be able to picture in my mind the characters and the setting via description; yet, there was so little in the way of description, I had difficulty focusing let alone enjoying the book. I felt as if I was sitting on a sun porch with my eyes closed listening to bits and pieces of adolescent conversation (although at times I was actually able to read a characters mind!)
I also found the double spacing between paragraphs and the mixture of regular, bold and italicized font to be disconcerting. However, this book reminded me of a rough draft, and I believe that with a bit of reworking and rewriting this could be as awesome as the cover promises!
I went through the goodreads reviews and found that there seemed to be an even split between people who liked and disliked this book; therefore, I have donated it to my local library to hopefully place it in the hands of someone who will love the book as much as I disliked it.
“In the spring of 1945, a young boy in the Pacific Northwest will make a life-or-death decision. Every morning, Herman "Hermy" Auerbach awakens to the pre-dawn song of canaries. The porch where he sleeps contains dozens of the songbirds. Outside, in the wider world, the Second World War enters its final, bloody months. Hermy comes to the Williams' house under protest after his parents' divorce, a result of his father leaving home initially to pursue his impossible dream of becoming an intelligence officer. Herman's mother, remarried to a sailor, abandons her son to move across the country and start another family with her new husband. By the time he takes up residency in the canary room, Hermy has already suffered both from abandonment and bullying. Life with the large, messy Williams clan offers Hermy little relief, although he bonds with the other boys in the family. When the boys hatch a wild escape plan, Hermy finds himself facing death, and deciding if his life is worth the struggle to survive after losing everything. A compelling story of one boy's struggle to survive the uncertainties of foster care and the war, The Canary Room brings to life the daily challenges of life on the US home front in vivid, historically accurate detail.”
…I was extremely excited about receiving the book. That excitement was soon turned into discouragement.
This book was not at all what I expected. I love to be able to picture in my mind the characters and the setting via description; yet, there was so little in the way of description, I had difficulty focusing let alone enjoying the book. I felt as if I was sitting on a sun porch with my eyes closed listening to bits and pieces of adolescent conversation (although at times I was actually able to read a characters mind!)
I also found the double spacing between paragraphs and the mixture of regular, bold and italicized font to be disconcerting. However, this book reminded me of a rough draft, and I believe that with a bit of reworking and rewriting this could be as awesome as the cover promises!
I went through the goodreads reviews and found that there seemed to be an even split between people who liked and disliked this book; therefore, I have donated it to my local library to hopefully place it in the hands of someone who will love the book as much as I disliked it.
March 28, 2015
This book is in more of a literary style than I generally read. The entire novel is written in internal and external dialogue from the point of view of 12-year-old Herman, a boy who has been passed from relative to relative. While this format gives us great insight to the character, over the length of the novel it is wearing on the reader.
The text varies from regular print to bold Italic. It is often confusing as to who is speaking and whether it is in the present or past and whether it is internal or aloud. The book desperately cries out for clearer narration. To be honest, I would not have finished it if I had not received a free copy for review.
Having said that, there are good points about The Canary Room. We get to know Herman, and little Charlie, in great depth. Herman has been abandoned by his mother and left with relatives by his father who travels around raising money for war bonds. With the backdrop of the second world war, the lifestyle, language, and behavior of Herman’s social circle is vividly portrayed. Unfortunately, because of the dialog style it often took me considerable time to remember who was who.
The novel is basically an exploration of Herman’s tragic life and his need for continuity, safety, and love. I do believe more plot would have made this a more interesting read as the character exploration did not need 274 pages. At one point, it seemed as though there would be a dramatic ending but instead, it fizzled out.
Although this book wasn’t to my taste, it could be the book for you if you’re looking for something in an experimental style that focuses on character.
The text varies from regular print to bold Italic. It is often confusing as to who is speaking and whether it is in the present or past and whether it is internal or aloud. The book desperately cries out for clearer narration. To be honest, I would not have finished it if I had not received a free copy for review.
Having said that, there are good points about The Canary Room. We get to know Herman, and little Charlie, in great depth. Herman has been abandoned by his mother and left with relatives by his father who travels around raising money for war bonds. With the backdrop of the second world war, the lifestyle, language, and behavior of Herman’s social circle is vividly portrayed. Unfortunately, because of the dialog style it often took me considerable time to remember who was who.
The novel is basically an exploration of Herman’s tragic life and his need for continuity, safety, and love. I do believe more plot would have made this a more interesting read as the character exploration did not need 274 pages. At one point, it seemed as though there would be a dramatic ending but instead, it fizzled out.
Although this book wasn’t to my taste, it could be the book for you if you’re looking for something in an experimental style that focuses on character.
August 18, 2015
1945, Herman Hermy Auerbach, mom & dad get a divorce. Dad is off to WWII.
His mother marries a sailor & abandoned him.
He starts out by going to live with Mrs. Gladys Williams & Mr. Williams.
Left to fend for himself he moves into a place in the Pacific Northwest in which he is awaken each/every morning to the sound of canaries or other types of songbirds.
William Willy Pillton (aka Corregidor, Uncle Corey, Aunt Ide 4th husband) was arrested, questioned & is in a Boise jail awaiting charges.
What will become of him?
Flip back/forth in time I think Hermy probably suffers from PTSD.
You 2 have your PhD’s. I’m not sure this is even close to MLA. I know it is not APA style.
Italics, bold, & Italics bold I have no clue what style of writing this is. Never seen it before in my life; undergrad or graduate.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great movie, or mini TV series. 1 you must read to the end. Not sure I grasped the whole story content so I will rate it at 4/5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Serealities Press; paperback book 4/
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
His mother marries a sailor & abandoned him.
He starts out by going to live with Mrs. Gladys Williams & Mr. Williams.
Left to fend for himself he moves into a place in the Pacific Northwest in which he is awaken each/every morning to the sound of canaries or other types of songbirds.
William Willy Pillton (aka Corregidor, Uncle Corey, Aunt Ide 4th husband) was arrested, questioned & is in a Boise jail awaiting charges.
What will become of him?
Flip back/forth in time I think Hermy probably suffers from PTSD.
You 2 have your PhD’s. I’m not sure this is even close to MLA. I know it is not APA style.
Italics, bold, & Italics bold I have no clue what style of writing this is. Never seen it before in my life; undergrad or graduate.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great movie, or mini TV series. 1 you must read to the end. Not sure I grasped the whole story content so I will rate it at 4/5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Serealities Press; paperback book 4/
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
June 7, 2015
Edwin F. and Linda Casebeer's novel "The Canary Room" stretches the reader's abilities. Initially, I was put off by all the different font and print styles. Some parts indented and italicized, some words in bold, fairly leaping off the page, double-spaced and single-spaced. I put the book down after two chapters. I tried to read another book but I could not stop thinking about a young boy, named Herman, who is trying to make sense of where he is, what will become of him, and the changes WW2 has made for Americans in general. I put the second book down and went back to this unique story style of writing that lets the readers know what is old memory or current musings of this thoughtful child protagonist. Through the voice of this young man, we learn about typical life for those struggling to survive while their loved ones were off fighting...treatment of Japanese Americans...changes in living on a day to day basis...creative ways to stretch what food or opportunities come their way...the pain of bullying and finding one's way after divorce too. A dream to build a canoe comes to fruition but with nearly tragic results that mirror what the fortuneteller has told Hermy. Animal lovers will appreciate Hermy's simple love for all things that have fur, scales or wings.
Although I received a free copy of this book through a Goodreads give-away, it did not influence my review in any manner.
Although I received a free copy of this book through a Goodreads give-away, it did not influence my review in any manner.
June 2, 2015
****I won this book on Goodreads in exchange for my honest review*****
The Canary Room, set during the final months of World War II, is a heartwarming story of a 12 year old boy. Herman's personal world has become as chaotic as the rest of the world. His parents recently divorced and he's been shuffled around to various homes, in none of which he's been treated very well. Herman wonders why his parents aren't in touch, why his dad doesn't have him come visit, why his mom, who has moved to another state, doesn't write.
I found The Canary Room to be an interesting and quick read, as I was constantly wanting to know what Herman would think of next, what he would reveal of his past, what antics he might get up to with his friend Sonny. The book pulled me in right away. One can't help but feel for Herman, aching for him when he feels like his parents have abandoned him. The theme is sad, but the book doesn't feel like a sad read, though at times you hurt for Herman, and for some of his various pets who've not come to good ends. I did have a difficult time reading this though, because of the format. When Herman is in the present, the font is normal, but when he thinks of things that have already happened, it is in italics. Reading paragraphs in italics is not easy on my eyes and I think somewhat diminished my enjoyment of this book. I probably would have rated it 4 stars instead of 3, if not for this.
The Canary Room, set during the final months of World War II, is a heartwarming story of a 12 year old boy. Herman's personal world has become as chaotic as the rest of the world. His parents recently divorced and he's been shuffled around to various homes, in none of which he's been treated very well. Herman wonders why his parents aren't in touch, why his dad doesn't have him come visit, why his mom, who has moved to another state, doesn't write.
I found The Canary Room to be an interesting and quick read, as I was constantly wanting to know what Herman would think of next, what he would reveal of his past, what antics he might get up to with his friend Sonny. The book pulled me in right away. One can't help but feel for Herman, aching for him when he feels like his parents have abandoned him. The theme is sad, but the book doesn't feel like a sad read, though at times you hurt for Herman, and for some of his various pets who've not come to good ends. I did have a difficult time reading this though, because of the format. When Herman is in the present, the font is normal, but when he thinks of things that have already happened, it is in italics. Reading paragraphs in italics is not easy on my eyes and I think somewhat diminished my enjoyment of this book. I probably would have rated it 4 stars instead of 3, if not for this.
June 7, 2015
I won this book on First Reads. I really wanted to like this book but I found it a bit of a challenge at the beginning to get into. The young man who the book is about, Herman, has a very interesting voice. Normal text is when things that are happening are happening now, italics text is when he is remembering things from his past and bold text appears to be what he is thinking. It takes a while to get into this rhythm, but I perservered and found the book to be a not too bad read. Reading about Herman's life, present and past, at times was like peeling an onion, layer by layer, to find out his story. I liked some of the characters in the book with him and liked Herman. His story begins during WWII and Herman's life changes when his Mom and Dad get a divorce and he lives first with his Mom and her new husband and then with his Dad. But although his Dad wants custody, he seems to not want to spend any time with him, pleading lack of money and being busy with war work, so Herman is farmed out to live with different families. His experiences there form the basis of the story. I felt very sorry to Herman...wanting and needing his parents and having to live with other families, part of the family but not really.
June 3, 2015
First of all thank you to Goodreads for this book, I received it in exchange for my honest review of the book and what can I say, I always like winning a book!
The Canary Room is about a young boy at the end of WWII and his trials and travails being a young boy of a divorced family who tries to find his place in a confused world with a family who isn't his.
I was at odds with this book, the formatting really threw me for a loop in a way that I really had a hard time getting over. I was ok with the stream of consciousness sort of style but I didn't like that the narrative was often punctuated with other thoughts and conversations from other times that the reader doesn't have background on. Also the random way that some of the sentences were regular font, italicized or in bold just really bothered me. There was no rhyme or reason to it and really took me away from the experience.
I did like some of the characters and stories but the overall disjointedness of the book, the various font and formatting issues really prevented me from enjoying this book as much as I could have. Everything came together for me in the last 10 pages, I enjoyed those last few pages the best. Overall not a bad story, but it was a difficult for me to get through.
The Canary Room is about a young boy at the end of WWII and his trials and travails being a young boy of a divorced family who tries to find his place in a confused world with a family who isn't his.
I was at odds with this book, the formatting really threw me for a loop in a way that I really had a hard time getting over. I was ok with the stream of consciousness sort of style but I didn't like that the narrative was often punctuated with other thoughts and conversations from other times that the reader doesn't have background on. Also the random way that some of the sentences were regular font, italicized or in bold just really bothered me. There was no rhyme or reason to it and really took me away from the experience.
I did like some of the characters and stories but the overall disjointedness of the book, the various font and formatting issues really prevented me from enjoying this book as much as I could have. Everything came together for me in the last 10 pages, I enjoyed those last few pages the best. Overall not a bad story, but it was a difficult for me to get through.
January 14, 2015
I received The Canary Room as part of a giveaway through Goodreads. The authors use a very different style in this book – in particular placing main character 'Herman's' thoughts in bold behind what is actually being said. While I didn't particularly hate this choice of style, it was sometimes a little confusing and difficult to decipher when the sentences became fragments and single words.
The story line of 'The Canary Room,' was interesting as a boy struggles with a number of challenges that result from being left with various relatives and foster families after his parents' divorce. However, I really disliked the ending. The reader is led to believe that something traumatic is probably going to happen to Herman after his palm is read and a relative reads tea leaves predicting his future/fate. However, as the story builds, the climatic ending is less than thrilling. It's just plain abrupt.
The story line of 'The Canary Room,' was interesting as a boy struggles with a number of challenges that result from being left with various relatives and foster families after his parents' divorce. However, I really disliked the ending. The reader is led to believe that something traumatic is probably going to happen to Herman after his palm is read and a relative reads tea leaves predicting his future/fate. However, as the story builds, the climatic ending is less than thrilling. It's just plain abrupt.
June 10, 2015
I received this book through FirstReads and it is, in a word, unreadable. For something written by the English department chair of Purdue, I have to wonder if it's a joke. I've read enough first drafts in undergraduate workshops to know crap when I see it and the reliance on italics, bolded letters, unformatted writing and underlining is, frankly, juvenile. It's like everything you should never do when writing. Not a chapter in and I couldn't tell you a single interesting thing about the main character other than that he is an abandoned child with Polio. The sentences were long, rambling, and made no sense and there was a very apparent show vs. tell battle happening. Tell wins. I'm honestly not surprised that they had to publish this through their own press - no one else would even look at it! I very, very rarely give up on books, but I value my time too much to slog my way through this.
July 19, 2015
I won this book on Goodreads.
It was the story of a 12 year old boy in the northwest during the end of WWII. It is told from his perspective and basically includes his thoughts which I found difficult to read and disconcerting overall. It did not have a good flow and slid back and forth between times and stories. That is the main reason I gave it only two stars. I thought the story itself was interesting and the characters were real and inviting. There was a great deal of pain and dilemma experienced by this child which made it difficult for me to read also. I didn't feel the canaries had all that much to do with the story either and wonder why they named it The Canary Room. I guess that was always in the background to some degree.
It was the story of a 12 year old boy in the northwest during the end of WWII. It is told from his perspective and basically includes his thoughts which I found difficult to read and disconcerting overall. It did not have a good flow and slid back and forth between times and stories. That is the main reason I gave it only two stars. I thought the story itself was interesting and the characters were real and inviting. There was a great deal of pain and dilemma experienced by this child which made it difficult for me to read also. I didn't feel the canaries had all that much to do with the story either and wonder why they named it The Canary Room. I guess that was always in the background to some degree.
June 25, 2016
I didn't find the different fonts as confusing as some readers, but maybe that's because I read reviews prior to reading the book and was prepared. Probably would have figured it out pretty quickly though as it seems pretty obvious. I never knew Idaho was considered the Pacific Northwest. I realized that I have never given any thought to what Idaho is considered and actually pretty much never think about Idaho. I love books that take place during WWII so I was excited to get a chance to read this one. It's a fast read. I went to Pop Pilates today and am starving so I'm gonna go get some McDonald's
I received a free copy of this through goodreads giveaways.
I received a free copy of this through goodreads giveaways.
November 6, 2015
The Canary Room is about a 12 year old boy dealing with his parents divorce and going separate ways, while he was dealing with bullying and foster care. The author goes back and forth between Hermy's memories (in italics) and the present. This, for me, to a bit to get used to, but once I got the flow, I enjoyed the book. The characters were written well; the back drop of the end of world war two was well written, and the story overall a very engaging read.
***This book was received through a Booklikes Giveaway by the Publisher, Quirk Books, for an honest review.***
***This book was received through a Booklikes Giveaway by the Publisher, Quirk Books, for an honest review.***
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