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 Retreat - David Bergman

Bergman's "The Retreat" is a wonderfully believable story set in the area of Kenora, Ontario Canada, during the time of the occupation of Anicanabe park, in the early 1970's.

As cultures and generations clash, the reader finds themselves awash with emotional tension. Bergman balances emotions so delicately in this novel, that the reader constantly feels conflicted. Hoping for the beast, but dreading the worst. Love for family against hatred for corrupt authority figures. The sweetness of young romance, with the bitterness of that which is doomed before it starts. This book commands you to keep turning pages into the wee hours.

A fine novel by a former Giller Prize winner, proving that Bergman is a force to be reckoned with on the Canadian literary scene, and likely will be for some time to come.


This book courtesy of Random House - McClelland & Stewart/Library Thing

Children's Hospital paperback sale, Feb 7-9/08

Heads up to all Winnipegers looking for great deals on books!

Children's Hospital Book Market-Paperback Sale

• Location: St. Vital Centre

• Date: Feb. 7-9, 2008 during Regular Mall Hours

The Children’s Hospital Book Market, sponsored by Dufresne Furniture and Appliances, will hold their ever-popular Paperback Sale from February 7-9, 2008 at St. Vital Centre. Visit the mall during regular hours to find fabulous books at great prices.

Bargain hunters and avid readers will be able to peruse through thousands of books in categories including biographies, fiction, mystery, romance, war, and science fiction. Don’t miss our huge selection of children’s books and comics including titles in French!

Each sale supports the Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba and allows us to fund pediatric research, equipment and kids programs at Children’s Hospital and the Manitoba Institute of Child Health.

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