By Grand Central Station I Sat Down and Wept, by Elizabeth Smart. Pub 1945 I originally had somewhat positive hopes for this one, as I do usually enjoy a more lyrical/poetic narrative. This was not that. Lyrical and poetical yes, narrative not at all. There are only a few concrete incidents in the entire story (and I... Continue Reading →
The Children of Men, by PD James. Book report #36 (2022)
The Children of Men, by PD James. Pub 1992 Sperm counts around the world declining "Suicide is generally available to people. (MAID helps people) who, for physical and possible mental reasons, can't make that choice themselves and do it themselves." David Lametti, Justice Minister and Attorney General for Canada. Canadian retailer's commercial celebrates the "hard... Continue Reading →
The Cellist of Sarajevo, by Steven Galloway. Book report #35 (2022)
The Cellist of Sarajevo, by Steven Galloway. Pub 2008 I had read this only once before, not long after it first came out, but the story has stuck with me and it felt worthy of being read again (that, and "book with a place name in the title"). Using as inspiration the story of a... Continue Reading →
The Plum Review. Book report #34 (2022)
The Plum Review, from Broken Sleep Books. Edited by Aaron Kent. Pub. 2022 A few years ago, I learned of this poem: This is Just to Say, by William Carlos Williams I have eaten the plums that were in the icebox and which you were probably saving for breakfast Forgive me they were delicious so... Continue Reading →
The Elegance of the Hedgehog, by Muriel Barbery. Book report #33 (2022)
The Elegance of the Hedgehog, by Muriel Barbery. Pub 2006. Translation by Alison Anderson, published 2008. This was a gift from my fellow book-clubber, and while it took me awhile to get into it, it turned out to be a nice little story of surprising friendships. Reneé is a concierge at an elegant Parisian apartment... Continue Reading →
The Missing of the Somme, by Geoff Dyer. Book report #31 (2022)
The Missing of the Somme, by Geoff Dyer. Pub 1994, updated 2016 Last year, one of my favourite reads was But Beautiful by Geoff Dyer. At the time, I looked at his bibliography, but nothing leapt out at me. Then I heard him on a book-chat podcast a few months ago, and enjoyed his discussion, including a... Continue Reading →
Larry’s Party, by Carol Shields. Book report #30 (2022)
Larry’s Party, by Carol Shields. Pub 1997 I first read this book in 1997; I splurged on a hard-cover (first Canadian edition, even), and read and enjoyed it immediately. A few years later, I listened to an audiobook version (on cassette tape, of all things) which is no longer available anywhere. It's a book I... Continue Reading →
Olive Kitteridge, by Elizabeth Strout. Book report #29 (2022)
Olive Kitteridge, by Elizabeth Strout. Pub 2008. I recall a friend giving me this book years ago - I think she was moving from a nearby home to a faraway one, and was off-loading books and other stuff to me. This was one she was adamant I read. In my own house, it drifted to... Continue Reading →
We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, by Karen Joy Fowler. Book report #28 (2022)
We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, by Karen Joy Fowler. Pub 2013. This book was a re-gift from a friend (who herself received it as a re-gift). My friend reported being surprised at enjoying this one, as she did not enjoy the author’s more famous book. At the heart of this book is a surprising... Continue Reading →
At Night All Blood is Black, by David Diop. Book report #27 (2022)
At Night All Blood is Black, by David Diop. Pub 2018. Translation by Anna Moschovakis published 2020. I selected this book knowing only a few things about it: it is an award winner (Booker International 2021), it is a translation from the original French, titled Frère d'âme, and it has a colour in the title. It... Continue Reading →
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