Review: ALL THINGS CONSOLED, by Elizabeth Hay

ALL THINGS CONSOLED, by Elizabeth Hay

Audiobook

Penguin Random House Canada Audio - 2018

Narrated by the author, Elizabeth Hay

My Rating (out of 5)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Winner of the 2018 Weston Writer's Trust Award for Non-Fiction - The most coveted award in Canadian Non-Fiction. Elizabeth Hay is one of Canada's premier writers. She is a Giller Prize winner for her book LATE NIGHTS ON AIR, published in 2009.  I read it back then and enjoyed it enough to remember her writing style when I came across this book.

Once again i have tripped and fallen outside my usual genres. I would tell you that I don't even know why I picked up this book so far out of the norm for me, but I would be lying. The truth is, this was the book I needed to hear or read right now.  

Only a few short weeks ago I finally moved my mother from the house she lived in for he last 45 years, to a single bedroom apartment closer to me.  There was a lot of stress for both of us, as well as a certain sadness in leaving the family home for the last time. For me, this represented the first very big step of a long and difficult journey which her and I will travel in the days ahead. I do not know how much longer she will be able to live independently, but I feel she deserves to keep her independence as long as it is safe to do so.  There will come a time when my assistance  will no longer be enough and she will need to move again - into a retirement home, and if her physical health holds up long enough, I know she will need to enter a "memory unit". My only sibling lives half a country away, so it falls to me to oversee this process.

When a subject that you personally connect with merges with a writer with such great style and prose, you pretty much have to pick it up.  I did, and I am ever thankful for it.

In ALL THINGS CONSOLED, Hay documents the final years of her parent's lives.  She has written an incredibly open, candid and honest account of how age changes us, and how becoming caregiver to aging parents affects us, our relationships with them,  and our relationships with our siblings as well.  

Hay deftly documents enough of the family history to get to know what her parents were like in their younger and healthier years. Her gruff father with the short temper who was a stern teacher and school principle. Her overly frugal mother who would not waste a scrap of food, and seemed genuinely offended if anyone else did, but lived life with a flair only an artist could. When they are no longer able to live alone, far away from the assistance of their children, they are moved closer to Elizabeth and her husband. From this point Hay shares the experience of assisting her parents through their final years. She does this with exceptional respect, love, tenderness, and compassion.

Not all authors should narrate their own audiobooks.  Hay is one of the exceptions.  Her warm, soothing voice was exactly what this book needed. 

There is a quote - "We read to know we are not alone" by C.S. Lewis.  Listening to this poignant work in Hays own soothing voice did in fact let me know that I am not alone, regardless of how personal the journey is.  

Happy Reading,

Christine

Sunday Summary, November 18 - 24, 2018

Welcome to my Sunday Summary.  A look back on my bookish adventures for the past week.

November is flying by at lightening speed.  As the last days of November fly by in a blur, I am realizing that December is less than a week away and I am so very ill prepared.  

We celebrate Christmas at our house (more out of tradition than religion). Donning my Santa hat, at least one hard to find gift was purchased online. Alas, that gift is now in the hands of the striking Canada Post workers. I do try to buy what I can in person, but that seems to be getting more and more difficult in this city. There are fewer stores to shop at, and the stock is not always available. Wish Santa luck - I do not want a very good little boy to be disappointed Christmas morning. At least the strikes are currently rotating and not a complete walk-out, and there is some time to work with. I did order a Christmas themed book for our Elf on the Shelf to bring for my son's birthday with that package, but if it doesn't arrive in time for his birthday, it will just end up under the tree.  I know he will like PETE THE CAT'S 12 GROOVY DAYS OF CHRISTMAS, by Kimberly and James Dean because he asked for it at his school book fair the other day.  I had already ordered it so i turned his attention to a Lego book - SUPER SHARKS, by Penelope Arlon, and a Harry Potter pen.  

So much to do, so little time.  Every body's lament these days - I am an good company. 

Books Reviewed:

LIGHTS ON THE SEA, by Miquel Reina. I reviewed this delightful diversion in THIS POST. 

THE FIRST FAMILY, by Daniel Palmer - son of the late Michael Palmer. You can read my review of this Medical Thriller HERE.

LYING IN WAIT, by Liz Nugent. This book will be released in Canada on Tuesday.  You can read my ARC review of  this chilling thriller in THIS POST.

Ramblings Social Media, and Miscellany:

This week I went to social media with #ThreeWords

I was still reading LYING IN WAIT at the time so my own answer was; Creepy, Dark, and Devious.

#FridayFunFact was also on my social media this week.  Since I am a book nerd (and if you are reading this you probably are too), it seemed fitting to examine the origin of the word "nerd". 

Advance Reading Copy (ARC) Books Previously Reviewed and Released this Week:

None  this past week.  

Currently Reading and Notable Titles on Deck:

I am currently reading an e-ARC of WATCHING YOU, by Lisa Jewell which will have its Canadian pub date on Boxing Day. 

I am currently listening to ALL THINGS CONSOLED = A DAUGHTER'S MEMOIR, by Elizabeth Hay. One of those forays into a genre I only visit occasionally, but I try not to limit my reading choices too rigidly. 😊

Happy Reading, 
Christine

Review: LYING IN WAIT, by Liz Nugent

LYING IN WAIT, by Liz Nugent

Simon & Schuster Canada - Available November 27, 2018

Thank  you to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating (out of 5)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was one of those books that make you say "wow!".  

The first big "wow" moment is the very first sentence - "My husband did not mean to kill Annie Doyle, but the lying tramp deserved it".  What a way to start a story!  The book ends with equal brilliance, but I won't spoil the ending for you . Everything in-between is well crafted and will keep you anxiously turning pages. 

Lydia and Andrew Fitzsimmons seem like pillars of society.  They live in a stately home with their son Laurence, and Andrew has a highly respectable job as a judge. Annie on the other hand, is a drug addict and prostitute. 

So when Andrew wraps his hands around Annie's throat and she ends up dead, Lydia and Andrew figure that she will not be missed and no one will spend a lot of time or effort looking for her. But despite Annie's flaws, her sister Karen loves her and is determined to find out how and why Annie disappeared, and their own son Laurence has long suspected that something was amiss in the Fitzsimmons household. 

This book was an unpredictable thrill-ride from it's electrifying first sentence to its chilling conclusion. That ending will send chills down your spine!  In three words, dark, creepy, and devious!

Happy Reading,
Christine

Review: THE FIRST FAMILY, by Daniel Palmer

THE FIRST FAMILY, by Daniel Palmer

Audiobook

MacMillan Audio- 2018

Narrated by, Fred Berman

My Rating (out of 5)

⭐⭐⭐1/2

It has been a while since I picked up a medical thriller.  I used to read them quite often, and Michael Palmer was always a good stand-by author in the genre. It is nice to see that his son Daniel has picked up the torch. 

This is my first book by Daniel Palmer,. It would seem that he inherited more than just DNA from his father. If I hadn't known that the senior Palmer had passed away, I would have had no problem believing that he was involved in the writing of the book.  I don't understand why Michael Palmer's name is larger than Daniel's on the cover - perhaps it is just homage to a father from his son. 

When the President of the United State's son Cam goes from a gifted, nationally ranked chess player - but otherwise typical teen, to lethargic, moody and prone to outbursts of anger, the White House doctor is quick to suggest psychiatric intervention.  But Karen, his primary Secret Service agent feels something is "off".  Despite their divorce, Karen thinks her ex-husband Lee is one of the best doctors around and manages to arrange for him to review Cam's case. 

Lee suspects something is very wrong, but the White house doctor is not taking well to being second guessed.  Lee finds links to other young people who had displayed similar clinical findings, and it soon becomes clear that Cam is is real danger, not only from the unknown disease, but from people who have motive to keep the disease a secret. Lee and Karen must work together to protect Cam from the people who wish to eliminate him as well as the deadly disease. 

I had no problem "getting into" the storyline of this book.  It was an easy listen and quite entertaining.  It was however slightly predictable. There were no moments where I was totally blind-sided, and the ending seemed a little soft.  

Narration was well performed by Fred Berman.  His pleasant voice and good range of character and emotion were an asset to to the story.

Overall, while not particularly memorable, it was entertaining.

Happy Reading,

Christine

Review: LIGHTS ON THE SEA, by Miquel Reina

LIGHTS ON THE SEA, by Miquel Reina

Audiobook
Brilliance Publishing - 2018

Translated by Catherine E. Nelson

Narrated by Malcom Hillgartner

 

My Rating (out of 5)

⭐⭐⭐⭐

A sweet, quirky, slightly magical tale. 

I chose this title after seeing an Instagram advertisement for it as a giveaway on GoodReads.  It was suggested that fans of LIFE OF PI, by Yann Martel would enjoy it. Having loved that book, I initially signed up for the giveaway, but needing a good audiobook to entertain me, I ended up using my audible credit to buy it. It does remind me a little of LIFE OF PI, with a bit of the animated movie "UP" grown up and mixed in.

Harold and Mary Rose are an elderly couple living on the edge of a cliff in San Remo. They are packing up their belongings as they are being forced out of their home due to the erosion of the cliff their house sits precariously perched upon. On their last night, they retire to bed and sleep through a storm that ultimately causes their house to fall off the cliff.  In a fantastical miracle, the house does not disintegrate. It does not sink. It simply floats across the sea, and their adventure begins. Through this adventure, and all they encounter along the way, they are reminded of what is truly important and find their own hearts once again.

Narration was provided with good range of characters and emotion. 

This was such a beautiful story, sweet and sad and magical.  I enjoyed every moment of it.

Happy Reading,

Christine

SUNDAY SUMMARY - November 11 -17, 2018

Welcome to my Sunday Summary.  A look back on my bookish adventures for the week.

I cannot believe how quickly the month of November is flying by! It seems like I was just dressing up my son and handing out treats for Halloween, and now everywhere I go, there are clear signs that Christmas and other winter observances will soon be upon us. I really would love to slow things down, just a tad. I am so not ready!

Books Reviewed:

I reviewed two books this week.

VITA NOSTRA, by Marina and Sergey Dyachenko.  My review of this unique and stunning book can be found HERE. 

WASHINGTON BLACK, by Esi Edugyan - This book has been shortlisted for both the Man Booker Prize, and the Giller Prize.  My review can be found in This Post.

Ramblings and Miscellany:

With it being a "short week" as Monday was treated as a holiday in observance of Remembrance Day which fell on a Sunday this year, I didn't post in this category this week.

Advance Reading Copy (ARC) Books Previously Reviewed and Released this Week:

While I always attempt to post my ARC reviews prior to publication date, this past week saw me sliding in with my review right on the publication date of VITA NOSTRA, by Marina and Sergey Dyachenko.  The link to this review is in the "books reviewed" section above. 

Currently Reading and Notable Titles on Deck:

I have just finished an audiobook titled LIGHTS ON THE SEA, by Miquel Reina, but have not yet completed my review - look for it to be posted soon! I haven't chosen my next audiobook yet.  I am currently reading LYING IN  WAIT, by Liz Nugent.  On deck next for reading is WATCHING YOU, by Lisa Jewell, which will likely wrap up my ARCs that will publish in 2018!  2019 is shaping up to be a fantastic year for books! So many great titles announced already. I already have some great titles lined up for reading.

Happy Reading, 

Christine

Review: WASHINGTON BLACK, by Esi Edugyan

WASHINGTON BLACK, by Esi Edugyan

Audiobook

HarperAudio - 2018

Narrated by Dion Graham

My Rating (out of 5)

⭐⭐⭐

Okay, so unpopular opinion time. I didn't love it. It was good, but for myself - it just didn't live up to all the hype. Shortlisted for both the Man Booker and The Giller prizes (among others), this book is getting lots of attention, and I probably wouldn't have picked it up otherwise.

 I had always said that I "don't read Historical Fiction", but after straying into the genre to read books like the wildly popular CanLit title THE HOME FOR UNWANTED GIRLS,  by Joanna Goodman, and the wildly under-popular WHAT BLOOMS FROM DUST, by James Markert and loving them both (I gave them each 5 stars), I thought maybe it was time to consider that perhaps my reading tastes are evolving. Certainly I am more inclined to give some consideration to Historical Fiction titles now, but this book reminded me of why I always shied away from the genre in the past, and why I should be careful when choosing from this genre that is not my norm. 

For me the book started out strong, flattened in the middle, and fizzled a bit at the end.  

The story starts with our protagonist Washington Black as a youth who is a slave on a plantation in Barbados. When the master dies, his two sons arrive on the plantation. His eldest son Erasmus Wilde is the new, harsher master and life for the slaves becomes even more cruel. Washington is taken under wing by Erasmus' younger, abolitionist brother, Christopher "Titch" Wilde under the pretext of using him as an assistant. 

When Erasmus and Titch's cousin comes to visit and dies suddenly on the plantation with only Washington as witness, Titch and Washington escape together, but eventually Washington is abandoned by Titch and he is left on his own to make his way. In time slavery is abolished, and Washington ultimately tracks down Titch and confronts him while also confronting his own past in the process.

Perhaps I missed some things, but there seemed to be loose ends that just were not resolved sufficiently and near the end there were elements that did not "fit" with the overall story (Those who read it will know what I mean regardless of whether they agree or disagree with my opinion).

Edugyan clearly has a gift. My initial impression was one of well written prose and strong characters, but when I look back at the story as a whole, I cannot say I loved it.

The narration by Dion Graham was very good, with a pleasant voice and excellent range of character and emotion. 

Happy Reading,

Christine

Review: VITA NOSTRA, by Marina and Sergey Dyachenko

VITA NOSTRA, by Marina and Sergey Dyachenko

HarperCollins - 2018

Translated by Julia Meitov Hersey

Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review. 

My Rating (out of 5)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Brilliantly unique. This conceptual fantasy is unlike anything I have read before!

Sasha and her mother spend their vacation at a sea-side village.  One day Sasha notices a strange man seems to stalking her.  This man seems to have a strange power over her.  He commands her to perform certain acts, which she feels powerless to disobey.  For each of the acts commanded, Sasha comes into the possession of gold coins. When she waivers, bad luck follows, and Sasha soon learns to do what is requested.

Ultimately the man tells her to use the coins to enrol at an unknown college - The Institute of Special Technologies, in a little known town. Sasha complies and starts to study and this secretive school, even though she doesn't really want to, and her mother begs her not to.   

Study at The Institute is gruelling, but the unspoken threats keep Sasha on track.  Soon she craves the exercises and assignments. Sasha puts her all into it and becomes the top student, and she is changing - undergoing a metamorphosis. The more she changes, the more she craves.

While reading this book, I became intensely aware of the mood of it.  There was a starkness and oppressive quality to the mood for the time at The Institute. I love it when the writing can so powerfully suggest a mood that enhances the story itself.

I would have to caution that although a fantasy, this is not a "light and airy read".  I took more time to read it than I had anticipated (I must say though, I was happy to take my time with it). It is original, and powerful, and intelligent. 

This book was one of most anticipated reads of 2018 and I was not disappointed!

Happy Reading,

Christine

Sunday Summary, November 4 - 10, 2018

Sunday Summary November 4 - 10, 2018

Sunday has rolled around and come upon us again.  Time to look back on my bookish adventures for the week.

Books Reviewed:

AN AMERICAN FAMILY, by Jackson Baer.  You can see my review of this book, first in a duology HERE.

THE HAZEL WOOD, by Melissa Albert. I reviewed this modern day Fairy Tale in THIS POST.

WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING, by Delia Owens. Find out why I loved it HERE.

Ramblings and Miscellany:

November 10th was Keratoconus Day. Find out the warning signs and how this disease affects my reading experience HERE.

November 10th was Neil Gaiman's birthday! One of my favorite authors of all time.

On this day of remembrance, I would like to acknowledge the the service and sacrifice of all who have served. Lest We Forget.

Advance Reading Copy (ARC) Books Previously Reviewed and Released this Week:

There were two books I reviewed advance copies of published this week.

HANNAH GREEN AND HER UNFEASIBLY MUNDANE EXISTENCE, by Michael Marshall Smith. I posted a review of this fun, quirky piece HERE.

FOREVER AND A DAY, by Anthony Horowitz, the latest James Bond/007 installment - which is actually a prequel to CASINO ROYALE also published this week. You can read my thoughts and also about my Hometown's connection HERE.

Currently Reading and Notable Titles on Deck:

I am currently Reading (still) VITA NOSTRA  by Marina and Sergey Dyachenko, and listening to WASHINGTON BLACK, by Esi Eduygen.  I will be reading LYING IN WAIT, by Liz Nugent next.

Keep warm and Happy Reading,
Christine

Review: WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING, by Delia Owens

WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING, by Delia Owens

Penguin Audio - 2018

Narrated by Cassandra Campbell                                                                                                                                                      

My Rating (out of 5)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is one of the most beautiful and heartbreaking works I have ever "read". 

In 1969 a popular young man is found dead at the foot of a fire tower. Suspicion is immediately focused on Kya - the mysterious "Marsh Girl". 

This stunning, poignant tale follows young Kya from the 1950's to the 1970's.  As a young child, Kya's home life is piteous. Dirt poor and living in the marshlands of North Carolina, her family is subjected to discrimination by the local townspeople. Her father is abusive, and  his violence drives her mother and  siblings away, one by one, until she is but a young child living in a shack with the father who leaves her for days at a time, until one day he doesn't come back either.  

Harbouring deep abandonment issues (who wouldn't), and intensely suspicious of the people who have scorned her all her life, Kya lives in the marshland shack all by herself, earning her the moniker "marsh girl".

Oh how my heart ached for the thought of a mere child living by herself.  I wanted to wrap Kya in my arms, to let her feel warm and safe.  I wanted to scream at the injustice of her life.

At odds with her abandonment issues, is the basic need for companionship. She does form relationships twice with local boys,  but these do not turn out well for her and only scar her heart further.  

Owens has created one of the most stunningly beautiful and heartbreaking works in recent time.  The resilience of young Kya, battling the odds not only to survive, but ultimately thrive, still able to see the beauty in the world around her.

Owens work as a nature writer shows in this novel.  The setting of this novel is so vibrant that it seems to become another one of the characters. You could almost hear the gulls, the frogs ,the insects, smell the salt air, see the grasses and reeds and shells, and feel the sand underfoot. There is a mood to this book. It is haunting, sad, beautiful, and all-encompassing.  

Narration by Cassandra Campbell was perfect. Her southern accent and impressive range of emotion and character was an ideal match for this incredible story. I cannot imagine anyone doing a better job. 
This is one of those books that is not easily forgotten.  Reading it makes it a part of you. It reaches into your humanity and takes up residence snugly against your heart. 

Happy Reading,

Christine

How long can you protect your heart?
For years, rumors of the "Marsh Girl" have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. When two young men from town become intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life - until the unthinkable happens.
Perfect for fans of Barbara Kingsolver and Karen Russell, Where the Crawdads Sing is at once an exquisite ode to the natural world, a heartbreaking coming-of-age story, and a surprising tale of possible murder. Owens reminds us that we are forever shaped by the children we once were, and that we are all subject to the beautiful and violent secrets that nature keeps.

https://www.deliaowens.com/about-the-author/

Ramblings: When Eye Disease Strikes a Bookworm - Keratoconus day 2018

November 10 - Keratoconus Day

*Originally posted November 10, 2018

Today is Keratoconus Day. 

What does this strange sounding word have to do with a book blog? Simple - It is an eye disease; and what could be more threatening to the day to day happiness of an admitted bookworm than an eye disease? 

 

I have Keratoconus. I will always wear strong glasses. I will always have some vision issues, and Lasik is not an option.  I am one of the lucky ones though. I was diagnosed early enough to not have gone legally blind (it does not cause complete blindness, but can impair vision sufficiently enough to be considered legally blind) and/or require a cornea transplant. I was able to retain enough visual acuity to maintain my driver's license and most importantly, I am able to see my son's beautiful, smiling face. I did have to undergo a procedure called Corneal Collagen Cross Linking on my right eye, and expect that I may yet have to have the procedure on my left eye. Cross linking does not cure the disease, nor does it correct the damage already done by the disease. It merely halts progression of the disease. That is why early detection is so important. 

In the early stage, keratoconus symptoms can include:

• mild blurring of vision
• slightly distorted vision, where straight lines look bent or wavy
• increased sensitivity to light and glare
• eye redness or swelling

Left: normal cornea; right: cornea with keratoconus.

In later stages, keratoconus symptoms often include:

• more blurry and distorted vision
• increased nearsightedness or astigmatism (when your eye cannot focus as well as it should). As a result, you may need new eyeglass prescriptions often.
• not being able to wear contact lenses. They may no longer fit properly and they are uncomfortable.

Keratoconus usually takes years to go from early to late stage. For some people, though, keratoconus can get worse quickly. The cornea can swell suddenly and start to scar. When the cornea has scar tissue, it loses its smoothness and becomes less clear. As a result, vision grows even more distorted and blurry. 

Epidemiology estimates vary from 1 in 2000 to 1 in 500 people affected due to the symptoms so closely imitating astigmatism. Most will be diagnosed early in life (teen years), but some (like me) much later.

 

It was when I had the cross-linking done that I fell in love with audiobooks.  Nothing like sitting in a dark room with nothing to do to make you want a story read to you. Prior to attending my procedure appointment, I loaded up a tablet with a few audiobooks and turned the screen brightness way down. This was my company and entertainment for the first little while. After a few days, I started venturing out of my dark room, and while I puttered about in my sunglasses I continued with the audiobook I had started, and I learned how much more pleasant housework is with a story, and how many more stories I could fit into my life if I could multi-task.

Keratoconus is also the reason I love my kindle so much.  I haven't given up on hard copy yet - I love the heft of the book, the feel of the pages, and the smell of paper and ink; but the reality is my kindle is easier for me to read from.  Print books come with certain challenges that my Kindle addresses.  Smaller fonts in print books can be addressed by increasing the font size, the slight curve of the page near the binding is not an issue on an e-reader screen which is perfectly flat, shadows created by the location of the light source when reading in print are corrected by an adjustable, evenly distributed back-light on the hardware. It takes me a little longer to read a print book, but that's okay, I still like to sometimes. Maybe one day I will no longer care to read print at all, but that day certainly has not come yet. 

There has always been a bit of a long standing debate/rivalry over the validity of audio and/or e-books vs. print books.  I would like to say that all formats are valid.  While I am still able to read print with a little effort, there are others who cannot. My Grandfather-in-law has macular degeneration and is now legally blind. An avid reader before his disease claimed his sight; he has relied heavily on audiobooks for years. 

Every year on Keratoconus day, I try to post something to raise awareness of the disease and its warning signs. 2018 was the first time doing so as a bookblogger. This is now my second year posting this on my blog, If you have read this far, I thank you. 

If you would like to learn more, you can start by visiting https://www.keratoconusgroup.org/
If you know someone recently diagnosed, searching for "keratoconus group" on facebook and requesting admission to the group will provide a much needed peer support. 

Happy Reading!

Christine.