HER PRETTY FACE, by Robyn Harding is now Available!

Happy Book Birthday to HER PRETTY FACE, by Robyn Harding! 

This wonderful multi-layered Thriller is now available from your favorite retail bookseller! You can read my previously posted review Here

Happy Reading,
Christine

Sunday Summary - July 1 -to 7, 2018

Sunday Summary - July 1 to 7, 2018

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

Well, summer is in full swing now. School is out and it is HOT! Sunscreen and icy cold drinks are a must for spending time outside.  Living on the prairies this kind of heat wave comes with the most tremendous thunderstorms.  They are truly spectacular!  The fence building project that was supposed to take 4 days or so, is now on day 12....I think it is close to completion now though - thank goodness!  Real life will always demand i put down the book I am reading, but I would rater do  it to take my son to a splash pad or fly a kite, than go on another Home Depot errand, or get tools, or hold boards, etc.

What happened on the blog this week?  Let's take a look!

Books Reviewed:

SON OF A TRICKSTER, by Eden Robinson

Click Here for Review

THE RULES OF MAGIC, by Alice Hoffman

Click Here for Review

Ramblings and Miscellany:

July 1st was Canada Day!

Some of my favorite CanLit

Birthday 

Rohinton Mistry, one of the authors represented in my CanLit photo, celebrated a birthday on July 3.  You can read that post Here

                                                                         

Calendar Trivia

The Significance of July 4 to THE ADVENTURES OF ALICE IN WONDERLAND

Read that post Here

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

None this week, but as always there are some coming up.

Currently Reading and Notable Titles on Deck:

I am currently reading GIRLS NIGHT OUT, by Liz Fenton, and Lisa Steinke

I am currently listening to THE WIFE BETWEEN US, by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

Up next I will be reading an ARC of WITH YOU ALWAYS, by Rena Olsen. I also have a copy of THE CULT ON FOG ISLAND, by Mariette Lindstein which I have been looking forward to, among others.

Get out there and enjoy summer! Remember to put a good book in your beach bag, or take an ice cold beverage and book outside with you!

Happy Summer Reading!

Christine

Review - THE RULES OF MAGIC, by Alice Hoffman

THE RULES OF MAGIC, by Alice Hoffman

Audio Book
Simon & Schuster Audio - 2017
Narrated by Marin Ireland

 

My Rating (out of 5)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Hoffman is of the most revered magicians - a gifted writer.

Susanna Owens is a mother of three in the late 1950's and early 1960's.  Every mother knows their child to be unique, but for Susanna, it goes a step further.  In an effort to protect her children, she has set down some unique and specific rules.  No walking in the moonlight, no red shoes, no wearing black, no cats, no crows, no candles, no books about magic. And the most important rule, NEVER fall in love.

One day, the children receive an invitation to visit an Aunt in Massachusetts for the summer.  People in the town they visit avoid them and fear them, but why? They soon learn more about their history and themselves than they thought there was to know. 

The Owens' have been cursed since the 1600's when their ancestor Maria Owens was charged as a witch because of whom she loved. As each of them navigates their way into adulthood, they must find a path through tragedy and pain, each trying to defy the curse that has defined generations of Owens'.  But in the end remaining true to oneself is the only course, and to be in love is not something you cannot decide whether to do or not. Ultimately each must find a way to break free of the curse, or learn to live with the painful consequences of it. 

This story is so beautiful and touching. It is rich with emotion, and leaves the reader at turns devastated and delighted, and heartbroken and heart-warmed - but always enchanted.

  

Narration by Marin Ireland was in itself a thing of beauty, seemingly effortless in portraying the emotions of the story. It was a pleasure to listen.

Happy Reading,

Christine

Review: SON OF A TRICKSTER, by Eden Robinson

SON OF A TRICKSTER, by Eden Robinson 

Penguin Random House 2017

 
















My Rating (out of 5)
⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was an interesting story, though not easy to categorize. It has been classified as a coming of age story, but it isn't as simple as just that. While it is part coming of age, it is also part fantasy/mythology/horror. 

Jared lives in a small town northern British Columbia close to the local reservation.  His family life is dysfunctional to say the least. The book starts with Jared stating that his grandmother does not like him.  His mother is a drug user/dealer with violent tendencies. Jared is constantly paying his father's rent and utility bills with money he makes selling marijuana infused cookies.  The most stable element of his home life, for a time, is his dog Baby, and Jared is devastated at the loss when she dies. Even though Jared is underage, he drinks a lot, and does a lot of drugs.

Despite the level of dysfunction in his family, Jared is a pretty good guy.  One of those kids who is incredibly compassionate and caring despite his home life, not because of it. The way he cares for and helps his elderly neighbors makes him a remarkably likeable character.

But that level of family dysfunction breaks a person on some level. When he starts seeing and hearing things like talking ravens, you wonder if is due to damage from the drugs and alcohol, or if he is mentally ill, but even those questions may have answers that are not so simple.

Robinson deftly and delicately inserts tiny little hints that there is more to the story. A single sentence here or there. Like a firefly's light - a brief flicker and then you cannot see it, but you know it is there. As you get a closer, it is a little easier to see.

I really enjoyed the way Robinson blended First Nations mythology with modern culture. 
SON OF A TRICKSTER is the first book in a planned trilogy.  The second book in the series TRICKSTER DRIFT is slated for Release October 2, 2018. I am looking forward to reading and reviewing that book as well. 

Happy Reading, 
Christine

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - July 4

 Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - July 4

On July 4, 1862  Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (The real name of author Lewis Carroll), first tells the story of  a young girl named Alice "with lots of nonsense in it" at the request of his friend's children while on a boat trip. 

Exactly 3 years later, on July 4, 1865 ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND was first published.

Illustration Alice and other characters by Jessie Wilcox Smith

 ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND, sometimes referred to as ALICE IN WONDERLAND has been a perennial children's favorite ever since.  It is often a child's first real foray into the genre of fantasy.

Happy Birthday Rohinton MIstry!

Birth date of Rohinton Mistry - July 3

Today is the birth date of Rohinton Mistry.  

Mistry is the author of well known books such as A FINE BALANCE, SUCH A LONG JOURNEY, FAMILY MATTERS, and more. 

 

 

Rohinton Mistry was born in 1952 in Bombay, India.  In 1975 he emigrated to Canada. His work has earned him numerous awards, and a loyal following. 

I have read all three of the novels mentioned above, and they have all maintained a spot on my book shelf. They are deep and poetic and moving. 

Happy birthday Rohinton Mistry!

Happy Canada Day!

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

Hoping my fellow Canadians are enjoying their Canada Day weekend! If you can enjoy a good book by a Canadian author, even better!  I am currently reading SON OF A TRICKSTER, by Eden Robinson.

Some of my favorite books by Canadian Authors

Happy Canada Day Reading!

Christine