The Gargoyle, by Andrew Davidson. Pub 2008 I read this book when it first came out in 2008, and was blown away by it then. While it's been one I often think of as being an old favourite, I had never reread it, and actually had little memory of what it was actually about other... Continue Reading →
Lessons in Chemistry, by Bonnie Garmus. Book report #2 (2023)
Lessons in Chemistry, by Bonnie Garmus. Pub 2022 I received this book as part of my Christmas book bounty from my sister. Unlike all the others, this one was not on my wish list, but I had heard about it online. It seemed like a nice light story, so I dove in ahead of some... Continue Reading →
Banned Books, by DK. Book report extra #1 (2023)
Banned Books, by DK. Pub 2022 This was an impulse purchase while Christmas shopping, inspired by last year's quest for a banned book. I was hoping this might provide some better suggestions than Googling does, and it did achieve that along with some learning about the hows and whys of banning through the ages. There are 87... Continue Reading →
2023 Reading Challenge
Another year, another list. 2023's reading list takes us to 40 (!) items, with some more new categories to keep things interesting. The list is below. For this year, we removed the category "read in school", (partly because that list was actually quite short and had even fewer that we wanted to reread), amalgamated "recommended"... Continue Reading →
How to Stop Time, by Matt Haig. Book report #1 (2023)
How to Stop Time, by Matt Haig. Pub 2018 I've had a few Matt Haig books in mind over the past year, mostly because his The Comfort Book is always prominently displayed at the bookstore, and his The Midnight Library has been popular in best-books lists the past few years. A few months ago, when depositing some books in... Continue Reading →
Dave Cooks the Turkey, by Stuart MacLean. Book report extra #6 (2022)
Dave Cooks the Turkey, by Stuart McLean. Pub 2005 A gift from Christmas 2021 (thanks, Mom!), this seemed like a good holiday read for this year. Although very brief, it was a delight. For more than 20 years, Stuart McLean was the creator, writer, and host of a Canadian treasure called The Vinyl Café. Part... Continue Reading →
Item #30 – Cru menu
This piece of paper is a treasure for two reasons – the event and the location. Cru Restaurant was a favourite for several years and for even more reasons. The ambiance – comfortable, intimate, not too loud, not too large – made it a treat to go for dinner. The menu and wine list were,... Continue Reading →
The President’s Hat, by Antoine Laurain. Book report extra #7 (2022)
The President's Hat, by Antoine Laurain. Pub 2012. Translation by Gallic Books, 2013. This is a wonderful semi-modern fable of the power of talismans over fate, luck, and confidence. The titular president is François Mitterand, President of France from 1981-1995, and he was well known for his sartorial elegance, especially his scarf and the also-titular... Continue Reading →
2022 Reading Challenge – summary
Wow – I did it! The goal was 37 books, and I did it and then some. As in the past, book selections later in the year had to be more strategic to get through all the categories, which led to some interesting choices. I’m looking forward to a fresh slate for 2023 and an... Continue Reading →
Broadsword Calling Danny Boy, by Geoff Dyer. Book report #32 (2022)
Broadsword Calling Danny Boy, by Geoff Dyer. Pub 2018 This book will only appeal to those who have a) seen and b) enjoyed (ideally several times) the 1968 movie Where Eagles Dare. For those who haven't, this book is meaningless. For those who have and like it, this book is a joyful and hilarious retelling of... Continue Reading →
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