The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini

A beautifully poignant story. Riveting and deeply touching at once, a book that will not be forgotten.

This book spans nearly four decades, and in doing so, tells the story of modern Afghanistan along with the story of unlikely childhood friends, Amir and Hassan, one a member of the social elite, they other a member of a much hated minority. With elements of family, friendship, betrayal, and loss, the effects of violence, and ultimately the search for redemption, the Kite Runner's layers run deep. Hosseini is a gifted writer, and I look forward to reading other work by this author.

This book is destined to be a favorite of many readers.

Children's Hospital paperback booksale

Today was Day 1, for the Winnipeg Children's Hospital bookmarket paperback sale, at St. Vital Shopping Centre. This sale runs Oct 18-20, 2007. It looks like Dufresne furniture stores are providing a lot of support, so kudos to them for their community involvement, and to all the volunteers who are so helpful and friendly.

This is not "The BIG" sale for Children's Hospital Bookmarket. That traditionally happens in May, when they pretty well take over the entire mall for a full week. This is a smaller scale, and can be found near London Drugs.

They have GREAT TITLES for GREAT PRICES, and the money goes to a very worthwhile cause. So if you can make it, swing by and pick up a book or two (or more haha)!

Titles I picked up today:
A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
Family Matters - Rohinton Mistry
The Shadow Lines - Amitav Ghosh
Black and Blue - Anna Quindlen
Do They Hear You When You Cry - Fauziya Kassindja

and a Box (Yes a BOX!) of harlequin's for my Mother. Total Cost...about $26

2007 Nobel prize for literature

Doris Lessing won the 2007 Nobel prize for literature.


read the reuters article

I am embarrassed to say that I have not read any of her books as of yet. She has written over 20 novels, as well as a multitude of short stories, poetry, plays, co-wrote two operas, nonfiction and two volumes of an autobiography. That's quite the collection of work. Her earliest published work appeared in 1950, with a recent release to her credit, that's 57 years of work! Bravo!

Galveston - Paul Quarrington

A past nominee for the Giller prize (short listed), I started this book with high expectations of finding some sort of unknown treasure in it's pages. I finished this book feeling ambivalent.

The story follows a small group of people, some local, some "weather weenies", during the onslaught of a strong hurricane on a small island. Sprinkled with comic descriptions, and tender moments, this book follows the age old theme of a mix-matched group of ordinary people, in extraordinary circumstances. While I cannot say I disliked the book, I did find it unmemorable.
In all fairness, I was somewhat distracted by the general issues of my life while reading this, but I can't imagine recommending this book to anyone with any real enthusiasm.

Life on the Refigerator Door - Alice Kuipers

With all the attention this book was generating, I was thoroughly intrigued. I picked up a copy from the bookstore by work when I ended up taking a last minute double shift, and needing reading material for my breaks, realized I had left the book I was reading at home. Since so many people had mentioned reading it in one sitting, or one day, it seemed like the perfect diversion. I finished the last of it that night in bed.

If one could measure emotion to word ratio, this book would come up high on the scale! It left me thinking how lucky I was - to have survived that period of my life, where babysitting and friends and fashion, seemed to come before my very own family - without suffering such an ordeal.

I know many people have commented on how the mother's character was not as evolved. It seems to me, that in the early part of the book she was all about her busy career (which is part of the reason the notes started), in the middle part of the book she is holding back, trying not to worry claire, and in the end of the book too ill to be a particularly "active" character. To me, her lack of depth was a part of the story, not a flaw. In my opinion, the story was about Claire.

Although sad, I quite enjoyed this book!

The beginning

So, I decided to start a book blog. I guess I will do some basic set-up before I "open the doors" so to speak, but we must all start somewhere.

I have included a link for bookcrossing.com. For those of you who have not heard of this, please check it out!!! Ever wondered what happens to the books you give away after you have read them??? bookcrossing.com is your chance to find out! It's a lot of fun!



Warning: Bookcrossing can be addicting!

Reading can be a fairly expensive hobby. Brand new books are a treat to be savored in moderation. Other than books I bring home from the local bookcrossing meetings, and friends,I scour the local used bookshop, and second hand stores for affordable reading. A good local used bookstore here in Winnipeg is The Family Book Exchange on St. Anne's Road. Cost is usually around half of new, and Laurie is very knowledgeable, and willing to put you on a wait list for books not currently in stock. You can also "cycle" many of the books bought there, by returning them once again for partial credit. She also keeps a binder of "if you like this author, you might like this other author" suggestions, and has a small shelf dedicated to Oprah's book club picks as well. I never leave with just one book!

Let the blogging begin!