CanLit Challenge discussion

I've just finished The Stone Angel and have The Imperialist waiting for me on my shelf (I have some library books to finish first). Both CanLit Challenge books.

What Canadian books are you currently reading and what do you think of them so far?

I just finished Dry Spring: The Coming Water Crisis of North America, which isn't strictly Canadian, but it's by a Canadian author and cites a lot of examples from around the country. Very interesting read about the water problems facing the continent in the not so distant future.

I'm reading The Imperialist now as my main book. Duncan writes a bit like or Elizabeth Gaskell or George Eliot.

Ibis3 wrote: "I'm reading The Imperialist now as my main book. Duncan writes a bit like or Elizabeth Gaskell or George Eliot."

I've had it on TBR for a long time and it's on my "SIY list". Your comparing the author to Gaskell and Eliot has given me a real incentive to move it up to the top of the pile.

I just finished Timothy Taylor's The Blue Light Project. Loved it. About a hostage taking at a children's talent show that turns into a media spectacle, drawing the Black Bloc, a disgraced journalist, street artists, etc. It's his best book yet.

I've finished Woodsmen of the West and am now reading That Summer in Paris, a memoir by Morely Callaghan.

Just starting slowly on A Map of Glass by Jane Urquhart.

I'm reading The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood.

I'm reading Bonheur d'occasion by Gabrielle Roy. So far really enjoying it. Has anybody else read this?

Rachelle wrote: "I'm reading Bonheur d'occasion by Gabrielle Roy. So far really enjoying it. Has anybody else read this?"

I haven't yet, but it's on the list... I hope you'll come back and give us your thoughts on it when it comes up.

April wrote: "I'm reading The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood."

This was book #21 http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/4.... I'd love for you to share your thoughts in the discussion thread.

Unfortunately I haven't read The Blind Assassin, but I'll certainly come by and share my thoughts on Bonheur d'occasion when you've read it, Ibis3!

Hi Ibis3. When will you be reading Bonheur d'occasion? I just finished it this evening. Looking forward to sharing thoughts with you about it!

I just finished Gemma Files A Book of Tongues. Crazy and nasty -- just my kind of thing. My short review:

"The weird west has never been weirder. Or more depraved. Hexslingers, Aztec gods, viciously gay gunslingers, cunning Pinkertons, and the end of the world itself. Files blasts open your mind and then flips you a coin in payment afterward. Pour yourself a drink. You'll need it."

I don't know how the hell this ever got published in Canada, but it gives me hope.

Rachelle wrote: "Hi Ibis3. When will you be reading Bonheur d'occasion? I just finished it this evening. Looking forward to sharing thoughts with you about it!"

How about in the fall (I have the next few books picked out...)? Would you still remember it well enough?

Peter wrote: "I don't know how the hell this ever got published in Canada, but it gives me hope."

Sounds....interesting.

Ibis3 wrote: "Sounds....interesting."

Oh, it's interesting, all right....

Ummm, maybe lol. I'm actually terrible at remembering books and movies unless they really affect me in some way, which I can't say Bonheur d'occasion did, exactly. But don't rush, Ibis! I'm sure you can jar my memory when the time comes ;-)

Just started . I can only hope it is as great as her first novel , both based here on Vancouver Island.

I just finished Never Knowing and it was a good fast paced read. I didn't read her first novel so can't compare.

I just started reading Three Day Road. So far I'm enjoying the descriptive, almost poetic, language.

Janice wrote: "I just finished Never Knowing and it was a good fast paced read. I didn't read her first novel so can't compare.

I just started reading Three Day Road. So far I'm enjoying the des..."

Enjoy "Three Day Road"! I loved it too, along with "Through Black Spruce". TBS isn't as dark as TDR. If you liked "Never Knowing" it is worth trying

Still Missing I really enjoyed it. And being local helped make it even better.

Haven't read either of the Stevens books, but loved Through Black Spruce. TDR is sitting on my TBR shelf.

I'm finally on to The Luck of Ginger Coffey.

I'm reading The Canterbury Trail by Angie Abdou. An entertaining ride. She's managed to pull off a story with a large cast of characters, in which none ever becomes interchangeable with another. They are the least likeable group of people you could ever meet, but that's part of what makes the book fun.

Ibis3 wrote: "I'm finally on to The Luck of Ginger Coffey."

I'll look forward to your comments Ibis. I read this a long, long, time ago and although I remember it (and all of the Brian Moore books) with fondness I really don't remember much about it.

I'm reading Sandra Birdsell's Waiting for Joe. The few reviews I've seen suggest that this isn't her best, but I've always enjoyed Birdsell, so I'm going in with my own bias showing. :)

In addition to the book of Canadian poetry through the First WW, I'm also currently reading The Frozen Thames.

Ibis3 wrote: "In addition to the book of Canadian poetry through the First WW, I'm also currently reading The Frozen Thames."

I've picked up that Helen Humphreys book soooo many times: it looks wonderful. And I've loved everything else of hers that I've read.

I'm reading Timothy Findley's Spadehunter; I understand why most readers were disappointed in it, but I love the setting and I can see the streets and the characters...even if it's not as polished a work as some of his others.

I'm trying something with it that I've not tried before...reading it in "real time"...each section has a date and I'm reading it on the actual date. Because it's set in summer, this is really adding an interesting angle to the reading experience. I'm as hot and sweaty as the characters: no imagination required!

(But I think I might "cheat" at the end as I see that the last segment takes place many months after the one just before, and it might take something away from the read to leave that long of a gap for just a few pages.)

I'm reading Alone in the Classroom. This is her second book that I've read and I'm not sure I'm a huge fan of her style.

I just read and am looking forward to . I really enjoy WWI fiction and loved the native perspective shown in the book. I have heard that this series is actually a trilogy? Is this true and what will the content of the third book be?

I'm deciding on whether to read "Book of Negroes" or "Bride of New France" next. Any suggestions?

Meghan wrote: "I just read and am looking forward to . I really enjoy WWI fiction and loved the native perspective shown in the book. I h..."

I haven't read Bride Of New France, but I have read The Book Of Negroes and gave it 5 stars. It sheds light on Canada's role in slavery.

I've read The Book of Negroes too. I gave it 8 out of 10 stars. It was a real page-turner, but it did seem rather more contrived than realistic. Three Day Road is on my TBR shelf. (I read Through Black Spruce first and really liked it 9/10 - it made my top ten in 2009.)

I'm still reading Canadian Poetry, and I've made a very small dent in Crackpot: A Novel. It's probably going to be a while before I'm onto anything else because I'm trying to finish up some long, non-Canadian ones.

Hi everyone. I've recently read Never Cry Wolf : Amazing True Story of Life Among Arctic Wolves by Farley Mowat, and now in the middle of reading People of the Deer. What an incredible man, and incredible stories he has to tell!! If you haven't read anything by Mowat, it's a must if you're Canadian.

Rachelle wrote: "Hi everyone. I've recently read Never Cry Wolf : Amazing True Story of Life Among Arctic Wolves by Farley Mowat, and now in the middle of reading [book:People of the Dee..."

I've read Never Cry Wolf a few times. I know that the truth of it has been questioned, but it does make a good story (not to mention a good case for living in peace with wolves instead of exterminating them).

I just read Moral Disorder last week, by Margaret Atwood. I think it's the fourth of her books I've read--I read three last year. Not, though, any of the ones you have threads for, which is why I haven't commented. As with all of her books, I enjoyed it a lot. Even though at the start I wasn't super into the story, it was so well written that it pulled me in. While billed as interconnected short stories, I really got a novel feel off it. It was like a challenge or puzzle to figure out who was talking and how it connected. It reminded me of a lot of other deeper women’s novels I’ve read. Liked it. Never really been disappointed in a Margaret Atwood.

I'm reading The Tenderness of Wolves. It is not written by a Canadian but it is set in Canada.

I just finished reading The Gaslight Dogs. The author is Canadian. It is set in the North, although it could be on another planet judging from the nationality names of the people (fantasy).

I'm happy to read your comment, Lils74, because I bought Moral Disorder from my library a little while ago without realizing that it was a compliation of short stories. I'm not a fan of short stories, so I was disappointed. Now that I hear from you that the book has a novel feel, I'm more inclined to reading it, so thanks :-)

I just finished The Golden Mean and found it a bit disappointing. Now I am starting The Outlander, hopefully it is better!

Janice wrote: "I'm reading Alone in the Classroom. This is her second book that I've read and I'm not sure I'm a huge fan of her style."

Hay grows on you! You have to give the books time to filter into your system - I found. I read STUDENT OF WEATHER again now after a long time, and liked it much more. I have become a fan of ALONE IN THE CLASSROOM. I interviewed her on the book (posted on her website).

Meghan wrote: "I just read and am looking forward to . I really enjoy WWI fiction and loved the native perspective shown in the book. I h..."

Oh, they are both great books! He is working on the next one.... I have not read Bride of New France, but I strongly recommend Book of Negroes! Wonderful book and very informative without being too heavy on history.

Just finished Ondaatje's The Cat's Table and now starting Alison Pick's Far to Go

Friederike wrote: "Janice wrote: "I'm reading Alone in the Classroom. This is her second book that I've read and I'm not sure I'm a huge fan of her style."

Hay grows on you! You have to give the book..."

A friend of mine LOVED A Student of Weather and it was she who chose Alone in the Classroom. She was also disappointed with Alone in the Classroom. I'm not sure that Hay will grow on me. Her writing is poetic and her descriptions are beautiful. However, I've read 2 of her books and don't see myself even wanting to pick up another one of her books, no matter how much anyone recommends it. Sad, but true.

I'm currently reading Tenderness Of Wolves by Stef Penney. Interestingly enough, the author is not Canadian and has never set foot in Canada. In fact, she is agorophobic. The book is set in Canada and it is amazing how spot on she is with her descriptions of winter in the cold north.

I'm curious. What do people consider to be a Canadian book? Is it author or setting? I have a bookshelf called Canadian Connection to capture either scenario.

Janice wrote: "I'm curious. What do people consider to be a Canadian book? Is it author or setting? I have a bookshelf called Canadian Connection to capture either scenario. "

For the general discussion categories on this group, I consider any book

* by a Canadian author
* set in Canada
OR * about Canada

to qualify as sufficiently Canadian. That kind of mirrors my own criteria for most purposes.

Thanks Ibis.

Janice wrote: "Friederike wrote: "Janice wrote: "I'm reading Alone in the Classroom. This is her second book that I've read and I'm not sure I'm a huge fan of her style."

Hay grows on you! You ha..."

I guess she is not an author that everybody relates to. I don't think it has to do with the fact that I am familiar with her environment and have heard her a couple of times speak to her books... I also think, that I enjoyed her books more on second reading.

I'm reading Why Not?: Fifteen Reasons to Live, a collection of short essays by Ray Robertson asking what makes life worthwhile.

I started The Cellist of Sarajevo tonight, and so far I'm really impressed by the author's writing style, and the story is compelling. Shaping up to be a great read!

I'm reading Esi Edugyan's Half-Blood Blues. I started reading it on the subway yesterday -- perfect opportunity for distraction, but I found it gripping and nearly missed my stop because I was so engrossed in the opening 1940 scene.