CanadianContent discussion

sorry for the delay but what's up with your reading in October?

I just finished Twice which was a reflective, quick read and have started John Candy: A Life in Comedy and am looking forward to learning more about him after enjoying so much of his comedy.

I’m trying to get started on Giller reading, but just abandoned The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus. I’d read about 120 pages and was bored. Nothing much seemed to be happening in it and there are too many other books to read.

I have a copy of The Paris Express, so I guess that will be next. Can anyone recommend any of this year’s Giller nominees?

I've read 8 of the 14 Giller books so far. Not sure I'll be helpful though, as one of the ones I liked was The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus.

Also liked Pick a Colour.

I have also read (so far this month) The Cure for Drowning, from last years Giller Prize longlist that I didn't quite get to. Loved it. Queer historical fiction, really, really well done.

The Crooked Maid & The Tiger Claw both of which I didn't really like. Historical fiction set in and around WWII.

Sugaring Off, The Polished Hoe, & 419, all of which I abandoned due to uninterest in the story and people.

Buffalo Is the New Buffalo is a collection of short stories, two of which I really liked. A bit of magical realism and alternate history included in the stories.

@ Susan - those were the 2 Giller books that I have read and neither were stellar. I have met both authors at book events this year and wanted to enjoy them more!

@Dawn - of your list, I do recall enjoying 419 but it has been a long time since I read that.

I just finished a reread of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe for book club which was nostalgic and kept me thinking of the movie as well as tFuture Boy: Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space-Time Continuum which enlightened me on what was happening behind the scenes and I enjoyed.

I've stumbled on a trilogy that I'm really enjoying, written by Canadian author Corinne Jeffery.
It's the "Understanding Ursela" trilogy, which begins with the book Arriving: 1909-1919.

The story centers on the Werner family after they arrive in the Canadian Prairies from Russia and how they settled. The years go by and the family goes through trials & tribulations, highs & lows and generally Life. It's a good read (if you like family sagas_.

I'm currently reading the second of the trilogy, Thriving: 1920-1939 and finding it as good as the first book.

Been reading a lot of CanLit lately.

In Winter I Get Up at Night, great writing, poetic telling of a story.

Bina, that I wanted to like but just could not for the life of me get interested in.

An Astonishment of Stars: Stories, a collection of short stories mostly about the female immigrant experience. Well done.

The Free World about the Russian Jewish WWII immigration experience. Didn't like the main character.

When Water Became Blue a translated french work, loved the writing style but didn't like the story.

The Road Between Us was good, a story of the interconnected lives of a few people, and how 1 event defined them.

Wild Life was animals and religion and kinda weird but really good.

So that means I've read 11 of this years 14 Giller Prize nominees now. 3 more to go.