CanadianContent discussion

Hi everyone - sorry for the delay today! I hope everyone is enjoying the last stretch of summer. As always, the days go by so quickly.

Have you had much time for reading? What have you finished, what is in progress and what’s next?

I was grateful to have received The Waiting Hours from my Secret Sender and am about half way through- what a book! I had not idea that I would be so taken in by this story.

On audio I have been listening to Circe for about the 4th time, I just cannot seem to get through it before it has to return to the library. I am not loving the voice of the reader and it is making it difficult for me to muster through. I had such high hopes for this book, I am waiting for the paper copy as perhaps this one is better read not listened to.

My to be read next pile includes No Friend But the Mountains: Writing from Manus Prisonand Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds. Sunny days ahead I hope, I am not ready to say goodbye to summer.

Hmmm...I enjoyed listening to Circe, Wanda, but we all have such personal tastes in narrators. There are some narrators I just can't stand to listen to.

No Canlit reads for me this week but I did enjoy The Hole by Korean author Hye-Young Pyun, which was sort of a Korean version of Stephen King's Misery, except that the guy in trapped in bed deserved it.

I listened to a collection of Neil Gaiman's essays Art Matters narrated by Gaiman himself. He's such a great narrator!

Right now I'm loving Disappearing Earth and am looking forward to settling in to finish it later today.

Happy weekend to all. Get out there and enjoy the last of those summer days!

@Wanda, I loved the Circe audiobook, but as @Storyheart said, different narrators appeal to different people.

I was having a hard time getting into a new book last week. I needed to read something interesting that didn't make me think too hard. The solution to that problem is usually a good middle grade novel - the perfect palate cleanser. I read The Simple Art of Flying, which has been calling my name ever since I bought it for the kids a few months ago. It's a charming little book that's sure to warm your heart. After that, I picked up The Red Tent, which I'm really enjoying. I'm still listening to Seven Fallen Feathers, but I anticipate this audiobook will take a while since I'm rarely driving or walking alone these days.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Happy Friday!

This week I finished The House of Broken Angels by Luis Alberto Urrea. I originally rated it four stars, but after a few days I am still thinking about it. I loved it - just changed to five stars.

I am currently reading The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston. I am really enjoying it so far. Next up is You Think It, I'll Say It by Curtis Sittenfeld. Need to get going with it - it is for book club on Wednesday night. After that I have to get some Canadian content going if I hope to finish Bingo!

Have a great weekend!

Happy Friday!

This week I finished A History of Loneliness and Anne of Avonlea, both of which I enjoyed very much. I also read the very short State of the Union: A Marriage in Ten Parts, which was fine and would probably work very well as an audiobook with two narrators, as it's basically a series of conversations between a married couple. I was commenting to some friends earlier that Nick Hornby is an author who I consider mediocre yet continue to read since he's a good palate cleanser!

I'm currently reading Raven Black, the first in a series of mysteries set on the Shetland Islands. Although this is by a British author, I'm using this for bingo (I5, set during a holiday). I wanted to find a non-Christmas, non-Halloween book and this one starts over New Year's and seems to be working toward Up Helly Aa, a fire festival in January that marks the end of the Yule season in the Shetlands. It's been a good read so far.

After finishing a few books last week, I've been starting a lot this week. That's a bit unusual for me but I can't seem to settle on a story, although I'm enjoying all the books that I've started:

Light in August - so good! I love William Faulkner's writing.

Silence - well written and very powerful. A story of Faith when all Hope is gone.

The Histories - well written and quite humorous but a bit heavy for the time that I have to give to reading lately.

In audio I'm listening to The Word Is Murder, which has had an intriguing start.

I just received The Crow Trap from the library but think I'll return it as it has 7 people on the waiting list and I don't think I'll finish it in time. I'll put myself back on the waiting list, though. I like the TV show this series is based on so have high hopes for the books.

Wanda, narrators are so important in an audio book. I've also returned audios when the narrator doesn't sit well with me.

Storyheart, I agree, Neil Gaiman is a wonderful narrator. I love listening to him narrate his books.

Happy Friday!!
This week I finished reading Betrayal in Time which I loved and Carnegie's Maidwhich was just ok. On audiobooks my true crime binge continues. I finished listening to The Sociopath Next Door and currently listening to The Killer Across the Table: Unlocking the Secrets of Serial Killers and Predators with the FBI's Original Mindhunter. Also reading Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore.
Have a great weekend everyone!

Lisa wrote: "Happy Friday!

This week I finished The House of Broken Angels by Luis Alberto Urrea. I originally rated it four stars, but after a few days I am still thinking about..."

@Lisa, are you part of the Girly Book Club? I read You Think It, I'll Say It as my in-person book club too this month!

Hi everyone

Did not manage to finish anything last week. Like Petra ended up with several on the go at once. This week has been better.
Finished Handmaid's Tale which for me was third reading which other than Lord of the rings trilogy I do not think I have ever done before. As well as liking the story as much as ever was struck by how vivid the visual memory of the story was since have not watched movie or series.

Also finished a bit of fluff called Steeped in Love which was a ebook group read on Overdrive. The beginning was fun and it wasn't badly written but by the end reminded me that I really don't like romance novels unless the romance is part of a deeper story.

Finally read La Dame de la Camillias by Alexandre Dumas fils Even though at one point I thought it was getting repetitive I really enjoyed it, zipped through it in two days.

Still in the works is Outlines by Rachel Cusk I am over half finished and the jury is still out. There does not seem to be much of a storyline but her writing is intriguing. It is concise and the dialogue is straightforward yet as you are reading you are reading along it suddenly hits you that she has pointed out this amazing universal truth. I am not good with words but would suggest if you have not read her you should give it a try. An added bonus is she is Canadian. She actually grew up in the States and is presently living in Britain but this book was finalist for Giller Prize do it appears she counts as Canadian.

I am also half way through audiobook Black Dahlia and White Rose short stories by Joyce Carol Oates. The stories are not my normal read but like this author and am getting pulled in.

Have a great weekend all. On a non book note am getting a visit from oldest son who lives in Winnipeg. He is here because is ref for CFL and they are having game on Sunday here. Will be my first football game.

✿✿✿May wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Happy Friday!

This week I finished The House of Broken Angels by Luis Alberto Urrea. I originally rated it four stars, but after a few days I am still t..."

@May, yes, I am a member of the North Bay Girly Book Club. Love getting together to discuss the monthly book, and all the other books we have been reading. Wasn't a huge fan of last month's book, so I hope this one is better. Did you enjoy it?

Lisa wrote: "✿✿✿May wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Happy Friday!

This week I finished The House of Broken Angels by Luis Alberto Urrea. I originally rated it four stars, but after a few da..."

Yay, Lisa! I believe we also have @Colleen who belongs to the Toronto Chapter. I go to the Richmond Hill one. I did not like this month's read. I do not enjoy the genre of short stories in general and although I thought some of the stories have potential, it was just an ok read for me. I am hoping The Great Believersis a better read.

I’m wrestling with my review for the Canadian classic, I Heard the Owl Call My Name, published in 1967. It is a very poignant and moving account of how a young Anglican priest is transformed by his stint serving the rapidly-changing indigenous community in Kingcome Inlet, B.C. For the most part the people are described in a loving way. However, knowing what we do now about colonialism and residential schools, there are some serious concerns. For its time, it was a great little novel that went on to become a New York Times bestseller.

@Lisa I know that North Bay is a small city but I’m always surprised at how often I hear about it or read about it or see it on my social media. It must be a hopping place! Also I believe the TV series Cardinal was filmed there, correct?

Elinor wrote: "@Lisa I know that North Bay is a small city but I’m always surprised at how often I hear about it or read about it or see it on my social media. It must be a hopping place! Also I believe the TV se..."

@Elinor, yes, North Bay is a small city, but we are a pretty active community. It is a beautiful place to live with lots of lakes and forests. Cardinal and Carter are both filmed here as well as some Christmas movies. My step-son recently helped to build a new set for a spinoff of the Hallmark series Hope Floats. Very lucky the book club was started here last year.