The Gargoyle - Andrew Davidson

A great book.

This book received a lot of attention even prior to it's release. Davidson received the largest advance ever in the U.S. for a debut novel by a Canadian author. Davidson was paid $1.25 million by Doubleday publishing for this book. They certainly got their money's worth, and so did I for my purchase.

Part love story, part historical fiction, part fantasy, and filled with stories within the story, this book was an absolute pleasure to read. Don't let the "love story" thing put you off if you are not a fan of romance novels, it is not that kind of love story!

A man who is beautiful on the outside, and has relied on his good looks, has an accident which leaves him badly burned and horribly disfigured. As he lies in his hospital bed, planning for the day he can commit suicide, he receives a strange visit from a woman who claims to have been his lover hundreds of years ago. This woman who carves gargoyles, tells their tales while nursing him physically and emotionally back to health. Soon she tells him, that she has only twenty-seven sculptures left to complete before her time on earth is done.

A worthy read!

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.

An absolutely beautiful story about love, loss, and letting go; about redemption, perseverance and living right; about the bonds we make, and the relationships that see us through.

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.

A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry

One of the best books I have ever read!

It is no wonder that this book won many titles; the Giller Prize in 1995, the Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best Book in 1996, The Los Angeles Book Award for fiction in 1996, among others, as well as being shortlisted for several other highly regarded awards, such as the Booker Prize.

Mistry is a master storyteller.

A Fine Balance, is a touching, beautiful, and yet sad tale. Intricately woven, and multi-dimensional this book will stay with you. Set in India, during a time political upheaval, corruption, and crushing poverty, four lives intermingle with each other. Though their initial meeting have them suspicious of each other, as they each face crises they come to depend on and bond with each other, in a deep and beautiful way. This books presents the best and the worst of what the human race has to offer.

It is hard to put into words my feelings on this book without saying too much for someone who has not yet read this book, but will read it. I can only say, as cliche as it is, this is a must read!

The Assassin's Song - M.G. Vassanji

This book was well worthy of it's nomination for the Giller Prize, and it's subsequent short-listing. It would have been worthy of the prize had it won.

A stunning novel about living with the pressures that come from religious, cultural, political, traditional and familial sources, and the difficulties in amalgamating these pressures with our own wants and desires, and how in our youth, it is often difficult to define our wants and desires.

This story is set during turbulent times in India, and follows a young boy named Karsan, from his earliest days with his parents and brother, living at a shrine. He is next in line to succeed his father as Guru and caretaker of the shrine. Though is father tries to keep him in the traditional ways, he soon rebels and seeks his own life in America. But soon Karsan finds it is not always so easy to escape your past.

The book ends with a subtle but delicious twist at the end. A fine work by Vassanji.

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.