#33 Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

Did you know, dear reader, that Agatha Christie is the world’s most widely published author in any language? Did you also know that her books are outsold only by the Bible and the works of Shakespeare? This is an enviable position to be in for any author and no small feat given how many books have been published yearly since the time period in which Ms. Christie worked. Born in 1890, Ms. Christie worked in a hospital during WWI and had her first 6 manuscripts turned down before finding success in 1920 with The Mysterious Affair at Styles featuring one of literature’s best known detectives, Hercule Poirot. She went on to become a pharmacy assistant in WWII where she acquired a working knowledge of poisons which was filed away for use in future novels.

Agatha Christie wrote Murder on the Orient Express in 1934, and features a memorable cast of characters travelling on the famous luxury train. In classic Christie fashion, a murder is committed, multiple suspects are then interviewed by the great detective Monsieur Poirot who must uncover the clues, unveil the secrets of the passengers and reveal the murderer travelling among them.  And just when the reader has drawn their own conclusions as to whom the murderer is, there is a shocking twist near the end drawing the tale to a suspenseful finish.

Regarded as the “Queen of Crime”, Agatha Christie is known as a master writer of suspense, plot development and characterization and for those who are fans of the genre, her many works  are more than worthy of bookshelf space. Until next time…have you read a book today? 

Julie

#32 All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doer

In the spring of 1939, Paris is preparing for war.  A little blind girl, Marie-Laure, lives with her father who works at the Museum National d’Histoires Naturelle where he is busy packing valuable artifacts to hide from the Germans. During the occupation, they flee to Saint-Malo on the coast of France with one of the museums most valuable treasures.

Told through the alternating voice of Werner, an orphan German boy who grows up with his sister secretly listening to stories from places they have only dreamed of. As a young boy, Werner understands the power of mass indoctrination and realizes that his fate will not be the one of his dreams but rather a pre-determined life of military service to the oppressive Nazi regime. He teaches himself to fix radios and soon becomes an expert whose skill is required to track down the resistance. Werner’s work with the Germans leads him to Saint-Malo and to Marie-Laure, whose uncle has been broadcasting secretly for the resistance for years. When he realizes that a Nazi officer is searching for an artifact hidden by her father, Werner feels the need to protect Marie-Laure and he does what he can to keep her safe. 

This is a story rich in period detail that will appeal to those with an interest in
WW II. Filled with complex relationships and difficult choices, this novel weaves an affecting tale of heartache, loss and the challenges the human spirit faces in the worst of circumstances. This is a moving story of people trying to be good to one another during a horrific time in our world’s history and it is a worthwhile book to settle into during the long winter months. Until next time…have you read a book today? 

Julie

# 31 Origins by Dan Brown

A continuation of the Robert Langdon series, this novel is the latest offering from Dan Brown.  It is a thrilling journey through modern art and technology, challenging the faithful of all religions along the way.  

Langdon has been invited by his genius former student Edward Kirsch to Bilbao, Spain to attend a gala presentation in which Kirsch intends to unveil his latest discovery which will answer the ongoing questions of human existence: Where do we come from and where are we going? When the presentation turns deadly, Langdon becomes entrenched in the investigation and must rely on his knowledge and his wits to reveal Kirsch’s discovery to the world and to untangle those responsible for his friend’s death. Helping him uncover the key to unlock Kirsch’s discovery is Ambra Vidal, the director of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. Together they must uncover clues hidden in religion and culture and race against those trying to prevent Kirsch’s discovery from seeing the light of day.  

A rapid and suspenseful story, Dan Brown writes an intelligent, well-researched tale which captivates the reader.   For those who are fans of the series, we are once again taken on a wild adventure through history, given cryptic clues to solve and are introduced to a strong supporting cast of characters. 

Don’t worry if you’re not familiar with his other novels (The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons and Inferno also feature his brilliant professor of religious iconology and symbology which is a fictitious field related to the study of historical symbols).  While they are all worth reading, Dan Brown designs his books to stand alone; past knowledge of the main character or his vast experience is not required however if you do find yourself as intrigued as I was, you should put Dan Brown’s other novels on your book bucket list.   Until next time, have you read a book today?

Julie 

#30    The Little French Bistro by Nina George

Once again dear reader, I am drawn to a book about all things French and I absolutely will not apologize! As the saying goes “Paris is always a good idea” and I find that reading anything about the City of Lights keeps my dream of returning to Paris, alive.

I must admit that the circumstances of the main character Marianne were just a little too relatable. Marianne is the wife of Lothar, whom she was married to for 41 years and controlled by him the entire time. While in a restaurant in Paris, on one of the rare occasions he takes her anywhere, Marianne is disturbed by a woman she sees on the street. Following her comments about the scene before them, the reaction of her husband flips a switch deep within Marianne. She decides she has had enough and leaves the restaurant.  But instead of simply going outside to get some fresh air and calm down, she leaves Lothar and her life behind and disappears into the French countryside where she follows signs that she’s ignored for too long, ending up in a little town along the French coast. Here in the town of Kerduc, she sees her life for what it was: not lived for herself but for her husband; any desire or dreams she may have had were stolen by him until she simply stopped living. Wanting to return to her true self, she meets a colorful cast of characters that open their town and their hearts to her and whose acceptance guide her back to the woman who was lost for so many years.

At its heart, this novel is about self-discovery and new beginnings which is fitting as we close 2017 and ready ourselves for the beginning of another New Year.  For me, 2018 will be one of transition and as I embark on new and unexpected changes in my life’s direction, I will surely discover things about myself that, even at 52, will give me clarity and guide me back to the woman I have always been.  So let’s raise a glass of bubbly and toast to finding ourselves, to aha moments that may present themselves with gentle grace or with bruising force and to see these lessons for what they are: an opportunity to learn about ourselves and to become, like Marianne, the person we’d always hoped we would be. Until next time…have you read a book today?

Julie

#29 Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz

I do enjoy a great, classic mystery, dear reader. Not the blood, guts and gore type that is so prevalent in some books and TV shows today but rather the good, old-fashioned kind ~ like in the game Clue: with a quirky detective, a colorful cast of characters, complete with plot twists and unexpected resolutions. This book definitely falls into that category.  It is a cleverly written novel that pays homage to Agatha Christie’s murder mysteries and will have you hooked long before you can ask “Whodunnit?” 

Susan Ryeland, long-time editor for the best-selling crime writer Alan Conway, is reading his most recent manuscript about his character, the great detective Atticus Pund, who quietly solves mysteries throughout the English countryside. While reading, Susan has no reason to suspect that the manuscript she holds in her hands will be any different to the others that she has edited over the years.

In the manuscript, Conway’s character Pund is investigating a murder at Pye Hall, a local manor house in the sleepy village of Saxby-on-Avon. After piecing together the testimony of the villagers, Atticus, in the manner of all great detectives, naturally discovers who the murderer is.  Just as the culprit is about to be revealed, Susan discovers that the final chapters are missing and embarks on some detective work of her own to discover the missing pages and to find out who has committed the murder in the novel. While searching, Susan becomes convinced that there is another story buried in the pages of the manuscript: one of real-life murder and it is up to her to solve both mysteries. 

This novel will have you playing detective right along with Atticus and Susan, keeping you up late into the night as you puzzle out the clues while trying to solve the mysteries. What a great way to spend a long winter night! Until next time…have you read a book today?

Julie

#28 The Lonely Hearts Hotel by Heather O'Neill

# 28 The Lonely Hearts Hotel by Heather O’Neill

Let me be honest, dear reader. I struggled with this book.  Like you, I read the synopsis on the cover; seek out reviews from reader friends and let reviews in magazines like Oprah guide my purchases. I thought this book was sure to be a winner and maybe for someone else it will be but alas, for me it was a hard slog.  

One thing that drew me to the novel was the setting. Occurring in Montreal at the turn of last century it gives wonderful insight into the time period and the harsh realities of the Depression.   The Lonely Hearts Hotel is the tale of two children who are abandoned in a Montreal orphanage during the harsh winter of 1914. As they grow, they are discovered to be child prodigies. Rose is a natural comic and dancer while Pierrot is a gifted pianist. To help raise funds for the orphanage, the children travel around the city giving concerts for the rich.  As they grow, their connection to each other deepens as their performances expand and they fall madly in love.  Torn apart as teenagers, they each must find their own way in the unforgiving city pursuing dreams they once shared. After years apart they are reunited and must re-discover each other while they conspire to make their childhood dreams a reality.   

While I liked the idea of the story I had a hard time getting hooked and realized that I was struggling with the style of writing.  I can’t say that I’ve experienced this all that often.  The Hobbit is one of the few books that come to mind where I’ve had a similar experience. Every few years I try reading it again because it’s a classic and I feel honor bound to keep trying. I still haven’t managed to finish it so sadly there is no way I could even try the other books in the Ring series. If you are a die-hard Tolkien fan, please accept my sincere apology. All I can say is that I’ll keep trying!  

Through this experience I’ve learned a lesson about book buying: check multiple sources. I admittedly got sucked in by the hype that surrounded this book and the over-the-top reviews on the jacket that elevated the novel into the realms of new classic creating expectations that were, for me, not realized. I failed to have personal conversations with others that have read it and as a result it took me too long to read and even longer to write this blog.  Again, dear reader, I offer my apologies.  I’m sure there are readers who will undoubtedly love this book and think me mad.  To those people I can only say “happy reading!” To those who choose to bypass this book, please consider adding my own novel “Erosion” to your must-read list. 

Once again, I apologize for this lack lustre review but I cannot in good conscience say I enjoyed a book when I did not.  Gotta love free speech! Until next time…have you read a book today?

Julie  

#27 The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

#27 The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

Have you ever found yourself gravitating toward the same topic over and over again? Well, dear reader, it seems I keep picking up novels that take place during wartime and this novel, which is filled with period detail and rich in intrigue, will keep you riveted.

The Alice Network begins with Charlie St. Claire. Unwed and pregnant, her mother is taking her to Switzerland to have her ‘little problem’ taken care of.  While travelling, we learn about Charlie’s desire to find her French cousin Rose who has gone missing during the war.  When they reach London, Charlie escapes from her mother and follows the only clue she has: an address which leads her to a miserable, old woman named Eve who, despite being drunk and dangerous, may be able to help Charlie in her search.  

The story unfolds between the two women in alternating chapters and time periods.  As Eve and Charlie travel the countryside of France, we learn of Eve’s desire as a young woman to serve in the war and of her recruitment into a spy network, of her service to her country and the horrible things she witnessed under German occupation. Young Eve immerses herself in her role as waitress in a French restaurant where German officers gather, listening closely for information that could help the resistance. When she finds herself the subject of the owners’ attention, Eve must decide how far she is willing to go in the name of her country. 

While she actively engages in the search for Rose, Eve is seeking to bury the ghosts that haunt her while Charlie must find her voice and her place in the world. As the women travel across France following clues that could only bring heartbreak, an unlikely bond develops between them. It is one of the many relationships woven throughout the story that drive the events and choices of the characters involved giving them dimension and depth. 

This is a riveting tale of redemption and betrayal.  It is a well-researched book that highlights women’s roles during wartime and the sacrifices made that go beyond sending their men off to war never to be seen again. It runs the gamut of human emotions that will captivate you entirely so that you won’t be able to put it down. Until next time…have you read a book today?

Julie

#26 Seven Stones to Stand or Fall by Diana Gabaldon

#26 Seven Stones to Stand or Fall by Diana Gabaldon

The most recent release by Diana Gabaldon is a series of short stories written during various periods of her writing career.  For those of you familiar with her Outlander series, each story in this compilation is based on the characters from her larger novels; each story revealing a little more background on the characters and their life and times. On page xiii of the Introduction, the author provides a detailed listing showing the sequence of each short story, novel or novella not in terms of when they were written but from the perspective of the story line. If I ever get around to re-reading all of them, it would be great to read them in this order.   

If you are new to the series, know that the short stories in Seven Stones are designed as stand-alone stories and are not dependant on having read the rest of the larger novels.  And because they are short stories, you can read one before bed and not be kept up wondering what happens next.  The first story Virgins is set in 1740 which actually predates the first novel Outlander.  You may want to begin with this story then move into the first novel followed by the stories, novels and novellas as listed in the Introduction mentioned above. 

For those of you who have not taken the time to read the Outlander series I ask you this one simple question: What are you waiting for? I know they are rather large (weighing in around 3lbs each) so I understand how the sheer size of the books may have put you off reading them. If this is the case, you are missing out on the wonderful story of Jamie and Claire Fraser, born in different centuries, brought together through the boundaries of time. You will be taken on a wild journey through the wilds of 18^th century Scotland and France as well as post WWII. It is history wrapped up in an amazing love story complete with sword fights, brothels and men in kilts. What’s not to like? Until next time…have you read a book today?

Julie

#25 The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells by Andrew Sean Greer

#25 The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells by Andrew Sean Greer

If you’re the kind of reader that only reads the latest and greatest, then dear reader, this blog is likely not for you. While I do keep an eye out for new releases and have read and reviewed a few since beginning this blog, I tend to roam the book store rather aimlessly carrying my phone so that I can check my “books that I’ll buy someday” list.  I’ve been compiling this list for some time and so it is rather extensive. Yet every time I go book hunting I come home with random books that aren’t on my list and have simply spoken to me by way of interesting title or cover and then piqued my interest with the synopsis.  I located this book in the discount section and after forking over my $5 and reading it over the course of a few days, I recognized it as a book that I would have paid more for.

The year is 1985 and Greta is mourning the loss of her twin brother Felix. Sadly in her grief, she neglects her partner Nathan of ten years. Rather than being patient and accepting of her grief, he takes a lover and when Greta discovers his betrayal she spirals further into the darkness. After months of therapy without any improvement, Greta turns to electroconvulsive therapy which leaves her disoriented and contemplating visions of an old-fashioned world which she assumes are memories being sparked by the treatment. Her last thought before drifting off to sleep is wishing that her brother’s death had never happened.  Upon waking, she discovers it is 1918 and all the characters of her life are there; her eccentric Aunt Ruth, Nathan who is her husband in this life and has gone off to war, as well as her beloved brother Felix.  With each treatment the time Greta lives in changes too (the next treatment takes Greta to 1941 and then back to her own time). When modern Greta realizes that the other Greta’s are travelling as well, she realizes that they must help each other make changes in each others lives and learn the lessons needed for survival before the final treatment is complete or risk being trapped in a different time and different life forever.

There is such sadness in each Greta as they struggle with the boundaries, the rules and the questions of her time and yet there is also much hope.  We see how each of the Greta’s life and times shape who they are as women as do the characters that share her lives, each varied and flawed providing new insight and meaning for the travelling trio. This is an elegant book, written with rich and varied characters’ that plays on your emotions, pulling you into their lives and demanding you to think about the paths not taken. 

In addition to a wonderful storyline there are some very deep truths scattered throughout this book. One that resonated deeply with me appeared on p. 39:

“There is a truth that everyone knows but you. Each of us has it; no one is immune. Not a secret, not a scandal, but something simple and obvious to everyone else.  It can be as simple as losing weight, or as difficult as leaving a husband. How awful, to sense that everyone knows the thing that would change your life, and yet no one is friend enough to tell you? You are left to guess it all by yourself. Until the moment comes when it reveals itself to you, and of course this revelation always comes a moment too late.”

This hit very close to home for me, making me stop and reflect before moving on.  Each Greta has a different perspective on the others’ lives because of her own perspective and it is also true that people in our lives see clearly what it is we cannot see, because of their distance, knowledge and perspective. I wasn’t expecting to find hidden wisdom yet there it was, staring me in the face, daring me to recognize it and connect it to my own life.  And, dear reader isn’t that one of the many joys of reading? To be able to relate to characters or situations, find similarities and make connections, to expand our thinking, to see a life so different from our own and admire or empathize with it? 

We all have our own reasons for reading, for choosing the books that we do and whatever your reasons, I’m just happy that you are taking time for yourself. There’s nothing like a good book, a glass/cup of _____ (insert your beverage of choice!) to bring a little peace and balance to your life. Until next time…have your read book today?

Julie

#24 The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

#24 The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

What first drew me to this book was the cover. How adorable is this dog with his racing goggles and jaunty red scarf blowing in the breeze? 

As soon as I opened the novel and was introduced to an aging Enzo the dog acting as narrator, I knew this was going to be a different sort of book. Looking back on his life, Enzo wants to imprint on his soul everything he’s learned about life through his copious hours of TV viewing and his interactions with his people so that when he is reincarnated as a man, he’ll know how to live a good life (something he learned on a show about dogs in Mongolia which makes me ask: how much television does your dog watch and are you making sure he’s watching quality programming?). 

Enzo shares his life as a puppy on a beautiful farm run by terrible people and how Denny, his human rescues him. Denny introduces Enzo to his passion; car racing and together the two watch many races tucked away in their bachelor pad discussing turns and techniques, with Enzo soaking up as much information as he can.  Things take a drastic turn when Denny meets Eve and the family dynamic changes. Plenty of laughs are to be had as Enzo describes nighttime activities among other things. Our dogs really do see everything! 

Denny’s life changes dramatically when Eve dies and her awful parents sue Denny for custody of his daughter. I was not expecting this development and what follows captured my attention and my heart.  Through his love for his daughter and his trusty friend, Enzo, Denny must wade through his grief over losing not only his wife but his daughter and somehow find a way to fight for what he knows to be right. In the end, it is Enzo that saves the day and I balled like a baby when he finally succumbs to old-age. 

This book is truly a delight, filled with many unexpected insights often made by Enzo as he watches his people and I find myself looking at my own furry friend with fresh eyes. What I didn’t expect and was delighted by were the parallels drawn between driving and living life. Most notably this: the visible becomes the inevitable or in Denny’s driver-speak ~ the car goes where the eyes go. Such deep truths! 

From driving lessons to life lessons, this book is a wonderfully story told with heart and emotion, and all through the eyes of a dog! Until next time…have you read book today?

Julie

#23 Left Bank by Kate Muir

#23 Left Bank by Kate Muir

One thing everyone who knows me knows about me is that I have a deep love and longing of all things Paris. So anytime I find myself in a book store and stumble upon a book that is French inspired, I can’t help but pick it up and have a look, ever hopeful that I can get lost in a version of a fictional Paris when I am unable to visit the City of Lights myself.

The Left Bank follows the shallow and self-centered, unhappily married power couple Oliver and Madison Malin. Madison is an American beauty from Texas who has spent years ridding herself of any trace of her roots in favor of french refinement, becoming fluent in French by living and working as an actress in Paris.  Oliver is from a once-titled family and is a modern philosopher using his charm and good looks to his advantage, often hosting discussions in Parisian cafes on topics of the day while using his position and public image to engage in dalliances with whoever catches his eye. While on a family outing at an amusement park they begin yet another fight in front of their young daughter who decides she’s had enough and disappears.  While they frantically search for her and in the days following the disappearance, Madison has deep insights into her character, her role as a mother, her feelings about her daughter as well as her feelings towards her cheating husband. She is forced to decide what kind of person and mother she wants to be all the while worried that her living and lifestyle may be threatened if she is no longer attached publically to Oliver.  

As I was getting to know this couple, I couldn’t help but despise them.  They are simply not very likeable people. But as they become immersed in every parent’s worst nightmare, new layers of these characters are exposed; their emotions are raw and their interactions are real and I couldn’t help but sympathize with them. Ok, I’ll be honest. As a mother, I could sympathize with Madison.  Oliver strikes me as the type of man who looks good on the outside and says all the right things but never manages to evolve beyond a slime ball and sadly, that is part of his charm.  

This book is filled with little cafes, wine, delicious food and scenic streets which speak to my very soul. It also captures what the French are famous for: elegance and pretentiousness mixed with haughtiness and love affairs. It was a quick read but long enough to transport me briefly to la ville de ma coeur.  Until next time…have you read a book today?

Julie

#22 The Lake House by Kate Morton

#22 The Lake House by Kate Morton

Dearest Reader,

I must begin by informing you that I am, unapologetically, a fan of Kate Morton. I have read her other novels and have thoroughly enjoyed them: from the descriptions of secret gardens and old ruins in England to how she weaves a mystery together, often spanning generations, and how she shifts with finesse through past and present. 

In 1933, Alice Edevane is the daughter of a privileged family who own a country estate deep in the heart of England. As the story unfolds, we learn of her parents past: her father’s service in the war and subsequent shell shock; her mother’s upbringing and their courtship, all which inform future events.  

As a budding young novelist, Alice develops a crush on Ben Munro, a drifter hired by the Edevane family to tend to the gardens. After her baby brother and Ben go missing the night of a grand party, Alice feels guilty because she shared with Ben a story idea with striking similarities to baby Theo’s abduction and she suspects Ben is the culprit. Keeping quiet about her suspicions, Theo’s disappearance is never solved and the family, who abandon the property shortly thereafter, are destroyed. Decades later Sadie, a police detective on sabbatical in the country, discovers the abandoned property while wandering the country lanes and stumbles upon the still unsolved mystery of Theo’s disappearance. Still tormented by a case that she’s escaped from, Sadie distracts herself with the hunt for clues in the long forgotten mystery finally uncovering the truth behind Theo’s disappearance and sheds light on Alice’s misconceptions which have burdened her thoughts and her life since. 

The Lake House is a suspenseful and intricately woven mystery which is expertly unfolded by the author. Ms. Morton creates vivid imagery of long ago days and the lives of the privileged English, their secrets and shame wrapped in a captivating plot and driven to an unpredictable conclusion. Like I said, I love Kate Morton’s writing and I know that this book will immediately draw you in as it did me and keep you intrigued well past the time you should turn out your light! Until next time…have you read a book today?

Julie 

#21 The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

#21 The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

Let me start, dear reader, by saying that this would make a wonderful movie! I imagine it would be one of those sweeping epics filled with panoramic shots of sea and sky, beautiful scenery and heart-wrenching emotion. But until the movie is made, you must read the book first. And anyway, reading a book before the movie is a good habit to get into and also just plain good sense!  

This is truly a lovely novel filled with heartache and reconciliation. We are introduced to Tom Sherbourne who signs up to become a lighthouse keeper following his service during WWI. After the horrors of war and without family, Tom needs to be alone so he can wrestle the demons of his past and what better place to do that than from a lighthouse off the coast of Australia.  Before taking his post on Janus, which is the last sight ships see when heading out to sea, Tom meets Isabel with whom he spends his remaining weeks before leaving civilization for the remote island.  After a lengthy courtship which occurs through letters and another brief visit, they decide to marry and Isabel becomes a lighthouse keeper’s wife.   Despite being raised in a family of means, Isabel takes to life on Janus and their marriage is very strong as a result. After the heartbreak of miscarriages, Isabel and Tom find a boat crashed upon the rocks with a dead man and baby girl inside.  Tom goes against his strong moral ethics by not recording the incident in the keepers log and reluctantly agrees to raise the baby as their own. What follows is a harrowing tale of loss, grief and guilt. Where one mother is made whole by this baby girl, another is filled with despair. We learn to care for these characters and for their circumstances and we understand their choices, despite one characters decisions causing another’s heartache.  

This is a moving novel filled with characters that are complex yet fragile at the same time. It gives the reader a real sense of the isolation felt as the characters immerse themselves in island life as well as the personal isolation felt when a difficult choice must be made and we are given just enough backstory to inform us of their true nature which informs their lives and decisions. We are treated to marvelous descriptions of Australia’s rocky coastline as well as fascinating detail on the workings of a lighthouse which had the very small science geek in me fascinated!  Overall, this is a great book to escape with and a great beginning for a fellow debut author. Until next time…have you read a book today?

Julie

#20 Crow Lake by Mary Lawson

# 20 Crow Lake by Mary Lawson

My dear reader,

Because it is the month of Canada’s 150^th birthday, I give to you another book by a Canadian author who is a distant relative of L. M. Montgomery, author of Anne of Green Gables. 

I was given Crow Lake by an English teacher friend some years ago and sadly, never read it. I’m not sure why. Perhaps at the time I wasn’t in the right frame of mind, maybe I was too busy or just not keen on the subject matter.  Lord only knows why I didn’t read it and quite frankly, it doesn’t matter.  What matters is that this book somehow missed my give-away box and I can now highly recommend it to you!

This book takes place in the harsh environment of the Canadian Shield and follows the Morrison family through a devastating loss.  We meet the family through the voice of Kate, the third of four children born and raised in a small community 400 miles north of Toronto, truly in the middle of nowhere.  Raised by loving parents, the children’s paths are forever altered when the parents are killed and the eldest son decides to raise his siblings himself.  When told through the innocent eyes of a child, the story is touching and tender but as Kate matures and her world view is altered, her notions of family, life and love become skewed and she abandons her siblings and the place she once called home.  When she returns home for a family celebration with her boyfriend, her memories and lost years begin to haunt her and she is forced to deal with the estrangement that has grown between her and her siblings, especially her brother Matt whom she idolized as a child and whose relationship has withered since she left home for the big city many years before.

I enjoyed this book not only for the view it gave into a different time but also the view of a place in our country that is so harsh and unforgiving that the challenges people living in that environment would have to deal with seem completely foreign in our modern times.  The author’s use of language is descriptive yet compelling and she supplies the characters’ with lives and emotions that are entirely believable. 

If you are searching for a distinctly Canadian novel, I would highly recommend Mary Lawson’s Crow Lake.  Until next time…have you read a Canadian book today?

Julie

#19 Come Barbarians by Todd Babiak

#19 Come Barbarians by Todd Babiak  

For your information, dear reader, I chose Come Barbarians largely because of the author.  Todd Babiak is a local boy, local in that he worked for the Edmonton Journal for 10 years and currently calls Edmonton home.  He has written other novels, two of which I’ve read and thoroughly enjoyed; Toby: A Man and The Garneau Block with its obvious reference to the community in central Edmonton.  I hadn’t read a review of Come Barbarians and hadn’t a clue what it was about but thought I’d enjoy it simply because I have enjoyed books by this author in the past. We tend to do that as readers, don’t we? We choose books by a particular author only because we’ve enjoyed their literary offerings and make assumptions about their future output then cross our fingers hoping that we’ll enjoy the novel and the money we’ve spent will have not been wasted.  Fortunately for me, this book was a winner and I’m so glad I had it on radar.

As I began reading the first few chapters, I became somewhat shocked by the unfolding of the plot. Not that the premise of the book is all that shocking: Christopher Kruse moves to France to become a better man and a better husband as well as to escape his past that has caused his marriage to break down and his wife to feel alienated.  After a horrific accident followed by the disappearance of his wife, he is drawn into a political web that forces him to draw on the skills from his past (those of the protective services kind) in order to stay a step ahead of the French police and the Corsican mob. No heart palpitations in the outline, dear reader? Whew! My shock stemmed from the fact that I simply hadn’t been expecting a gangster book. It is a fast-paced novel featuring a life that I’ve only seen in mob movies.   Filled with its share of conspiracy theories and the darkest impulses of man, it describes human violence rather graphically which is what I hadn’t been expecting. Despite my initial shock, I continued reading and found myself eager to discover the outcome of Christopher’s game of le chat et souris (cat and mouse).

Had this been a movie (and it really should be), I likely would have turned it off or at least averted my gaze rather than watch the brutal acts against man.  Knowing Hollywood producers today, there would have been too much gore for my delicate eyes. But despite writing about truly awful things, the author manages to temper this inhumanity with the softness of a father’s poignant recollections and uses these memories as a means of rooting his character to humanity, instead of allowing him to succumb to his savage instincts. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thrillers. Until next time… have you read a Canadian book today?

Julie

#18 The Underpainter by Jane Urquhart

# 18 The Underpainter by Jane Urquhart

I’ve learned, dear reader, during the time I’ve been reading and writing for this blog, that I generally gravitate towards books based on the cover art.  Simply put, if the cover has a pretty picture, I’ll have a look. Not long ago I was in a second hand bookstore and my eye was drawn to the painting on the cover of this novel; a still life of tulips painted in a way that reminded me of the old masters, layered with detail, warm light and muted colors and I wondered how this painting hinted at the story within.

The Underpainter explores the lengths people go to get what they want; travelling alongside self-denial as a means to an end ultimately leads the main character to discover his life has been built on failures. It sounds heavy, I know, but Ms. Urquhart writes with such beauty and grace that her story becomes light and enthralling. 

The story is about Austin Fraser, an American painter whose father strikes it rich in Canadian mining and drags his son north for the summer of 1920. After much coaxing on his father’s part, young Austin reluctantly becomes involved in the town of Davenport where he becomes friends with George who runs the China Hall and whose passion is painting on china. Austin doesn’t see George’s passion as ‘real’ art and arrogantly tries to enlighten his friend by sharing the philosophies of his own mentors whose viewpoints vastly contradict each other.  Despite the tenuous start, Austin travels to Davenport to spend a few days with George almost every summer afterwards before travelling further north to Silver Islet Landing on Lake Superior to paint Sara, his muse and his lover but never someone he shares himself with, returning to New York in the fall to complete his unfinished work while eliminating all thought of Sara and their time together. 

When an elderly Austin receives news of Sara’s death and that he has inherited her cabin, he embarks on a journey through his memories; his childhood after his mother died, his father’s rise to wealth, the disparate views of his mentors and how their influence caused him to lead a life of emptiness, compartmentalizing his relationships and living without sentimentality; George’s war experience and that of Augusta, a nurse from the same area who took care of him while in hospital at the front. Austin comes to realize his weakness is never having opened himself up to life or the people who inhabit lives that surround him and this weakness is reflected in his art and his relationships. His character sums it up nicely when studying art in New York as a young man - Austin describes himself as a tourist in his life; watching and observing as opposed to participating in life and having experiences. As he matures, his self-absorption blinds him from truly seeing his art, his subject, George and even himself for what they really are. What he thought was a life of passion was really carelessness towards himself and others.

The imagery in this novel is powerful and vivid and the author’s use of language to capture a landscape, a sense of place or feeling is intricate and skillful. And a novel about a painter wouldn’t be complete without wonderful descriptions on painting techniques (Austin’s rendering of scenes and landscapes - the underpainting - covered by the shadowed veiling of the overpainting or what the painting is about could be a metaphor for his life).

While this was a sad and haunting book it showcases not only our northern landscapes but is a fine example of an exemplary Canadian author. Until next time…have you read a Canadian book lately?

Julie

#17 The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion

#17 The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion

The Rosie Effect is the follow-up novel to the wildly successful The Rosie Project in which we meet the main character, Don Tillman searching for the perfect woman. Don quickly discovers that he has to adjust his way of thinking if he’s going to find true love when he meets Rosie and begins helping her with a project of her own. If you haven’t read the first book, dear reader, I do recommend giving it a go first as Don is such an interesting character and his behaviors in TRE only really make sense if you have a sense of him from The Rosie Project. 

TRE opens with the happy couple living in New York.  Don works as a visiting professor at Columbia while Rosie works on her PhD thesis. After marrying Rosie, Don is forced to adjust again, modifying his many routines to accommodate his new wife, their life in America and their pending parenthood. Despite Don’s academic brilliance, his worldly innocence and social ineptitude get him into trouble again. What follows are hilarious continuations of Don’s odd behaviors which inevitably lead to confusion and misunderstandings as well as the possible loss of his life with Rosie. 

This is an entertaining read and would be great to add to your summer reading list. Until next time…have you read a book today?

Julie

#16 BIG Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

#16 BIG Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

From the author of Eat, Pray, Love comes yet another New York Times Best-seller. While EPL was a novel that took the world by storm when it morphed into a movie starring Julia Roberts, BIG Magic is a book of another sort; yet equally as powerful in affecting your life. While reading, there were many moments where I had to stop and re-read portions. I needed to take notes on it; to savor an idea, let it sink in and percolate so I could make meaning of it for myself. 

BIG Magic is a guide to help us live more creative lives. According to the author, we all have the capacity for creativity partly because there are limitless forms creativity can take: baking, woodworking, music, writing, sewing, gardening, learning a new sport, decorating; anything that speaks to you and brings you joy.  The only limits are those we put on ourselves and our creativity. And let’s be clear about what it means to live a creative life: Ms. Gilbert is not talking about performing on Broadway or winning an Oscar. Which is good, because I get stage fright!

Through her own revelations and personal stories, Ms. Gilbert leads us on a journey towards our own creativity, passing through six areas of thought: courage, enchantment, permission, persistence, trust and divinity.  What she means is that we need to live our lives driven more by curiosity than fear. As I embarked on this journey with Liz, I was forced to think about some of my most basic fears; of being laughed at because I may actually have no creativity or talent to speak of. I’m often afraid that people will see me or my writing as ridiculous because it is something new that I’ve put into the world and it’s not something they associate with me or expect that I might even be any good at and secretly, I’m afraid that they might be right.  

I must confess, dear reader, that I’ve held these fearful ideas all of my life and that’s a sad thought. But I must also say that I haven’t let them control me either, at least not entirely. And that’s where courage comes in. We need courage to actually do the creative thing that speaks to us because life has a tendency to get in our way if we let it. And Lord knows my courage over the years has come and gone, sometimes daily it seems. 

Once we choose to be live more creatively, we need to allow inspiration to captivate us. Many years ago I had the thought that ideas are floating around us all the time and that all we have to do is reach out and grab one. If we don’t, the ideas keep floating around us until they find someone who is willing to catch it.  That’s inspiration and what Liz calls BIG Magic. She recounts moments, when she’s working on a project, how she’ll write as though possessed.  These are the moments inspiration has found her and also the moments when she’s been open to receiving it. 

I remember having similar experiences during the course of my own writing. Before I ever thought I could write a book, my character Kate just showed up one day and introduced herself to me by revealing snippets of her life.  Once I began paying closer attention, more ideas came; some details were presented on their own like a gift, allowing me to open it slowly, turning it over in every direction and really see it for what it was. Other ideas were almost stumbling over each other to make their presence known.  It was all I could do to keep up with them; scribbling them down so quickly some became difficult to decipher, so messy was my handwriting; margins over-flowing, arrows pointing in every direction barely connecting one idea to another.

I recall thinking that it was like being possessed but I didn’t dare stop. I didn’t stop to ask what was happening nor did I question what I needed to do. I just took notes from Kate as she dictated them to me completely unaware that what I was scribbling would eventually become a book.  After I had a basic outline and started writing I still didn’t question what I was going to do if or when I finished it, whatever it was. I simply wrote.  If I was stuck on a section, I’d leave it alone and move on to something else like vacuuming or gardening. You’d be surprised at how diverting your attention can refocus your thinking! 

Often I’d be writing and lose track of time.  When I first began my book I was teaching elementary music at the time, working most days from 10:30 to 2 at a school three blocks from my house.  I’d get ready for work in the morning, take my kids to school (oh how they loved having their Mom teach them Music) then come home and write for two hours while drinking copious amounts of coffee. There were many days where I was rolling into the parking lot as the recess bell was going, signalling the kids to return to class.  More days than I could count, they would arrive at my classroom while I was sneaking in through the side door.  Knowing how submerged I could become in the writing process, I got very good at making sure all my materials were ready the day before so that I could stroll in, take off my coat and begin class. 

Sometimes the missing piece presented itself to me during the day in which case I’d find time to scribble down the basic thought so that I could flesh it out later. Another technique that worked for me was to let the problem all but consume my thinking in the hours before bed. More often than not, the answer I was searching for came to me in my dreams and with any luck I’d wake in the middle of the night and quickly write it down on a pad I kept by my bed for that very purpose. Looking back, I did whatever it took to enable my creativity to be realized: I organized my mornings, skipped meals and lost sleep all in the pursuit of my work never knowing if it would be anything more than scribbles in a notebook and not caring if it ever saw the light of day.   This was my very own BIG Magic although I didn’t know what to call it at the time.

Liz (I feel like she and I are friends and she'd be fine with me calling her by her first name) goes on to say that once you are inspired, you need to begin creating the thing that will bring you joy. But here’s where we often get stuck. We ask for permission. What for? And who are we asking permission from?  Personally, I think it’s because I was brought up this way. Maybe it’s because I’m Canadian and I’m worried about being rude and that if I don’t ask for permission, I’ll get into trouble. Liz reminds me that I don’t have to ask anyone for permission. To say it loud and say it proud “I am a ______”. For me, my blank is “a writer”. For almost two years after my novel was published I had trouble admitting this. I was so worried about what people would say when they found out I wrote a book or heaven forbid they read it and had an opinion about it, positive or negative.  Repeat after me, replacing your creative action for mine: “I do not need anyone’s blessing to (write) nor do I need them to understand why I (write) or even understand the content.”  And remember, once it’s in other people’s hands, it’s out of your control. If they like it, great! If not, that’s fine too. But I’m going to do what Liz suggests: If they insult me or my work, I plan on smiling sweetly and tell them to go make their own f**king art!

Now that I realize I don’t need permission to be creative, I need to be persistent in my practice. This will improve the quality of my craft and keeps inspiration flowing.  Perfection is not the goal. If we wait until it’s perfect we’d either never start or never be finished which is a very defeating way to live. The big take-away here is be curious. Follow where your curiosity leads, track every clue and you may arrive at your passion and who knows where that will lead? My novel is proof of that!

And finally, trust the inspiration. I look back and think: How ballsy was it for me to not only think that I could write a novel but to actually write it? It took even bigger balls to get it published! Ok, so it’s not on the best-seller list…yet! (It should be, because it’s a really good story. As good or better as some of the books I’ve read. Check out “Erosion: A Novel by Julie M. Sorry for the shameless plug!) But being an international best-selling author is not the point.  The point is to trust my creativity as it comes and to be authentic with my voice, in whatever form that should take.  Maybe this year its writing but perhaps in the future, I might take up painting or gourmet cooking or even return to my first passion, music. I’ve always imagined myself singing in a coffee shop or little wine bar!  The point is, it doesn’t matter what it is. I just need to put my heart into it then share whatever it is that I’ve made without apologies, regardless of whether people say positive or negative things about it.  Just because it’s FUN! And who doesn’t need more fun in their lives?

I’m sure by now dear reader; you’ve deduced that for me, this was a powerful book.  It gave credence to some ideas that I’d had years ago and reminded me to listen less to the noises around me and listen more to the inner musings of my creative nature.  It also reminded me that I didn’t write my novel with the intent of becoming a world famous novelist. I wrote because of the sheer desire to write and in doing so, brought forth a brand new passion and gave to the world something entirely new and unique. 

Writing is my hidden treasure. Do you have the courage to find yours? Until next time, dear reader…have you read a book today?

Julie

#15 Yes Please by Amy Poehler

#15 Yes Please by Amy Poehler

I love SNL! Who doesn’t? But I must confess…I haven’t watched it regularly in years so I’ve only seen Amy in the odd sketch and in her movies. Still, I knew this would be an enjoyable book and a nice change from what I usually read. While I expected a memoir that included her childhood and the influence of her parents as well as her early attempts at comedy and how she landed on SNL, I wasn’t expecting to be immersed in rules for life according to Amy. 

Through a series of essays, haikus and quotes that could become mantras for living, the book is filled with advice that is often gutsy and raw yet always sensible and hilarious as only Amy could be. Her voice is authentic and her stories funny.  Her thoughts seem to spill onto the page as they form in her mind; chaotic at times when they form one long run-on sentence that exudes frenetic urgency or at other times, clear and concise anecdotes filled with lucid insights on what she’s learned on her journey toward a life as a stand-up comedian. 

Yes Please would be a delightful book to read on the beach this summer. Until next time...have you read a book today? 

Julie

#14 The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney

#14 The Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney

After hearing about this novel from so many people, I felt compelled to buy this book just to feel in the literary loop. 

The Nest follows Leo Plumb, the handsome and charming eldest brother of Jack, Beatrice and Melody. When Leo becomes embroiled in a unsavory situation, the family trust fund is put in jeopardy.  Through his accident and high profile divorce Leo’s siblings, who have counted on the money to fund their futures, are left with virtually nothing and are forced to preserve the wreck of their lives. Grappling with the consequences of their privileged upbringing, each of the Plumb’s must face their often poor life choices and their presumptions about their future. They find themselves scrambling to cover their tracks, which lead each of them to a deeper understanding of themselves and each other. Yet despite the back-stabbing and devious behavior, I found myself caring about the characters and hoping everything would turn out alright for this dysfunctional family. 

This is a fast-paced novel filled with razor sharp wit that you will not want to put down.  It shines a spotlight on family dirt in a delightfully venomous way while at the same time revealing our human frailties with compassion and remarkable insight. Until next time…have you read a book today?

Julie