I read this book with a friend at work; he chose it as something we could each read and then talk about. I should have been wary - the last time I did this, the book was The Tipping Point, also by Malcolm Gladwell. That book was remarkable in that I did learn some new... Continue Reading →
Construction of a Father
27 April is both #tellastory day and my Pop's birthday. Pop would have been 73 today, pretty close to the same age as James Taylor (a current favourite of mine). I don't know that Pop was a fan, but his other favourites - Gordon Lightfoot and Harry Chapin - share the same sad, confessional, troubadour... Continue Reading →
Tenth of December, by George Saunders. Book report #8 (2020)
Tenth of December, by George Saunders. Pub 2013I was drawn to this book as it caught my eye during my January splurge, and I've always wanted to read one of his books. I've only read one story of his - Fox 8, published in The Guardian several years ago and since made into a book.... Continue Reading →
Circe, by Madeline Miller. Book report #7 (2020)
Circe, by Madeline Miller. Pub 2018It is a testament to how gripping this book is that I finished it in 2 days. The story is a wonderful tale of a character central to Greek mythology and legend, but seen primarily as being on the fringes. Circe was literally on the fringes, in exile for much... Continue Reading →
A Field Guide to Getting Lost, by Rebecca Solnit. Book report #5 (2020)
A Field Guide to Getting Lost, by Rebecca Solnit. Pub 2005 I learned about this book at brainpickings, a site that I subscribe to on Twitter. It always has interesting serene tidbits and suggestions for reading. Walking is a favourite pastime of mine, so this seemed like a good book for me (she has another... Continue Reading →
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, by Gail Honeyman. Book report #4 (2020)
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, by Gail Honeyman. Pub 2017 This book was not even on my radar. But, a few weeks ago, I gave a presentation on goal setting at work, and mentioned some of my own goals (writing more blog posts, not buying more books). A friend and colleague left this book for... Continue Reading →
Sapiens, by Yuval Noah Harari. Book report #3 (2020)
Sapiens, by Yuval Noah Harari. Pub 2011 (English translation 2014) I chose this book after seeing it on Bill Gates’ top-ten book list, reading a bit about it, and then finding it during my January top-up splurge. I was daunted by the length of it (466 pages), and skeptical about getting through it. A previous... Continue Reading →
The Innocents, by Michael Crummey. Book report #2 (2020)
The Innocents, by Michael Crummey. Pub 2019. Also, Most of What Follows is True, by Michael Crummey. Pub 2019 Acquired during my New Year splurge purchase, I had added this book to my list back in September when I read about its publication as part of reviewing the Giller Prize nominations list. When I at... Continue Reading →
The Man in the Red Coat, by Julian Barnes. Book report #1 (2020)
The Man in the Red Coat, by Julian Barnes. Pub 2019 A great start to 2020! Being a total Barnes-ophile, when I saw that this book was coming out in England in November, but not in Canada until end of February, I could not wait. I ordered two copies of the lovely first edition (one... Continue Reading →
Tackling the Tsundoku
Amazon tells me that I bought this book in 2015, which is likely shortly after I read about it at BrainPickings. This word in particular spoke to me, as my own book collection resembles the artist's rendering, down to the leaning piles on the floor. I have always loved books - both having them and... Continue Reading →
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