A great novel by award winning Canadian author M.G. Vassanji.
A wondrous tale of an immigrant community and their trials. He brings to life the best and the worst of what that experience must be like, complete with family strife, cultural clashes, and personal temptations. His descriptions are vibrant and bold, proving why his work is such a respected part of contemporary Canadian Literature.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Life of Pi - Yann Martel
While reading this book, several people told me what a good book it was. Even People who didn't know me. I fully agree.
"Life of Pi" was winner of the Man Booker Prize for 2002, and winner of the Hugh MacLennan Prize for Fiction, as well as being shortlisted for the Governor General's Literary Award for Fiction.
On it's surface, this book is a delightful and entertaining tale. But much like the ocean much of this book takes place on, there is immeasurable depth as well.
This is a story of a young shipwrecked boy, and his unlikely companions as they bob in the sea in a lifeboat. Danger looms both from the sea, and from within the lifeboat. Martel's writing is fresh and often funny, and most of all, very entertaining.
A great read.
"Life of Pi" was winner of the Man Booker Prize for 2002, and winner of the Hugh MacLennan Prize for Fiction, as well as being shortlisted for the Governor General's Literary Award for Fiction.
On it's surface, this book is a delightful and entertaining tale. But much like the ocean much of this book takes place on, there is immeasurable depth as well.
This is a story of a young shipwrecked boy, and his unlikely companions as they bob in the sea in a lifeboat. Danger looms both from the sea, and from within the lifeboat. Martel's writing is fresh and often funny, and most of all, very entertaining.
A great read.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
The Art of Racing In the Rain - Garth Stein
I loved this book.
This book is written from the perspective of Enzo, a deeply philosophical and intelligent dog, (who is almost human), as he tells the story of his life with Denny and his family.
Stein's skill at character development demands emotional payment early on, and while constantly demanding payment, it also is constantly paying dividends. I felt love, grief, anger, love, disbelief, and yet even more love for Enzo and Denny. We learn almost immediately that Enzo is at the end of his life, and yet we still fall in love with him quickly and in spite ourselves.
This book is one of the warmest, most touching books I have read in a long time. I dare you to read it with dry eyes!
This book courtesy of HarperCollinsCanada Reading Group.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures - Vincent Lam
Giller Prize winner for 2006.
Lam weaves a tale of the inter-connected lives of a group of med students, as they work their way from pre-med courses, to med school, and into practice. His characters are complete and well rounded, each with bright wonderful qualities, and dark flawed qualities as well. His tale shines light on the pressures faced by those in this profession, and how they choose to cope with those pressures.
A good read.
Lam weaves a tale of the inter-connected lives of a group of med students, as they work their way from pre-med courses, to med school, and into practice. His characters are complete and well rounded, each with bright wonderful qualities, and dark flawed qualities as well. His tale shines light on the pressures faced by those in this profession, and how they choose to cope with those pressures.
A good read.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
High Crimes - Michael Kodas
An amazing book. One of the best non-fiction books I have read.
Kodas' writing style is reminiscent of Krakauer's, in that he writes not only from research, but from experience. That being said, he is a fine journalist in his own right. Kodas himself has been to Everest, (and in fact was on Everest at the time his subject Dr. Nils Antezana was there) and uses his own experiences to illustrate his points. A gifted writer, Kodas made the history and facts surrounding mountaineering on Everest so interesting, it was hard to put the book down.
This book primarily focuses on Dr. Nils Antezana's dream to climb to the summit of Mount Everest, and his unfortunate demise almost immediately thereafter.
While most people, both climbers and non-climbers are aware of the dangers the mountain itself presents - extreme cold, oxygen depravation, steep and icey slopes that may cause a person to stumble and fall etc., many people may be unaware of the dangers other people on the mountain present. From immoral and/or inexperienced guides, to cut-rate equipment, and theft - which at that altitude can constitute manslaughter. Kodas examines both these types of dangers in his book "High Crimes".
Bravely shining light on some of the darkest aspects of trekking Everest, and some of it's darkest characters, it should be required reading for anyone considering climbing any major peak, not just Everest.
This book courtesy of HarperCollins Canada Reading Group.
Kodas' writing style is reminiscent of Krakauer's, in that he writes not only from research, but from experience. That being said, he is a fine journalist in his own right. Kodas himself has been to Everest, (and in fact was on Everest at the time his subject Dr. Nils Antezana was there) and uses his own experiences to illustrate his points. A gifted writer, Kodas made the history and facts surrounding mountaineering on Everest so interesting, it was hard to put the book down.
This book primarily focuses on Dr. Nils Antezana's dream to climb to the summit of Mount Everest, and his unfortunate demise almost immediately thereafter.
While most people, both climbers and non-climbers are aware of the dangers the mountain itself presents - extreme cold, oxygen depravation, steep and icey slopes that may cause a person to stumble and fall etc., many people may be unaware of the dangers other people on the mountain present. From immoral and/or inexperienced guides, to cut-rate equipment, and theft - which at that altitude can constitute manslaughter. Kodas examines both these types of dangers in his book "High Crimes".
Bravely shining light on some of the darkest aspects of trekking Everest, and some of it's darkest characters, it should be required reading for anyone considering climbing any major peak, not just Everest.
This book courtesy of HarperCollins Canada Reading Group.
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