It's Monday what are you Reading?Still Life

Well I should be reading How to paint your house in on day>>> but I'm not.  It's been very warm and lovely and it's gardening time.... not much reading completed this week.
 It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week.  It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog   and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. And here we are!

Spent the week with Inspector Gamache. The man of my dreams, and he loves brioche.  I'd never read Louise Penny in order and decided this summer is the time to do this, so I started at the beginning, I'm sure I have many, but this one was in larger print, bravo, great to read with my sunglasses on.   So I enjoyed this one, I planted 3 pines in my front yard after reading "How the Light Gets in". they are getting REALLY tall, I may have to move the house. If not, I'll have to relocate the plants from beneath them, they don't get much sun anymore.   I'm thrilled to announce also, that Louise Penny is also a brilliant Canadian author, one more Maple Leaf in my reading log.

What's up next

Happy Reading

Friday 56...

Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice,  (congratulations to Freda, she's getting married).
Rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
(If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
 *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it)
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post below in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url. 
*It's that simple.
  Here's Mine.

I remember as a child thinking it perfectly normal that complete strangers joined us for meals.  Sometimes, we were surprised to see they were even wearing our clothes.  Mum would invite passersby in for tea.  Dad would pick up hitchhikers and bring them home for dinner; if they had been standing out in the rain, he'd give them a dry shirt.  When the minister at church announced that a runaway teenager needed an adoptive home, Mum was the first to put up her hand.


This is my first non fiction for the year, and I'm struggling with it.  They Left us Everything, is a memoir by Plum Johnson, a heartfelt story of what parents leave behind.

The Afterlife of Stars...

I just finished this book, a little unusual.  I chose it based on the review by Shonna, of Canadian Bookworm.  I'd never read anything about the Hungarian Revolution.  In the end I felt this was a book about brothers, family and the  weight of loss and turmoil.  I particularly like the way the elder brother Attila referred to his brother Robert,  and he often tells him he can grow up to be the "singing nun".  Very humorous, in the midst of terror.  In essence the  book is told from the point of view of an eight year old Jewish boy, whose family is fleeing the Hungarian revolution.  A series of unfortunate events unfold and some strange occurrences. 

from the book cover:
 In the waning months of 1956, while Russian tanks roll into the public squares of Budapest to crush the Hungarian Revolution, brothers Robert and Attila Beck flee with their family to the Paris townhouse of their great-aunt Hermina. As they travel through minefields both real and imagined, Robert and Attila grapple with sibling rivalry, family secrets, and incalculable loss to arrive at a place they thought they’d lost forever: home.
 
In beautifully crafted writing that burns with intensity and humour, Joseph Kertes explores displacement and uncertainty in a dark time from the perspective of two boys filled with wonder at the world around them.

March Wrap up...

I've had a not so good reading month, not sure why, but I've only just finished an Inspector Banks Mystery by Peter Robinson.  Interesting and somewhat confusing, I almost wanted to take a highlighter out and sort things out.  Eventually I got it!  I've not read much of Inspector Banks, I like him, but I don't know him.

A piece of my Heart, was a scary trip back to the time of the Manson Murders.  It was a very scary time, all that LOUD music, drugs and free love.  I'm so glad I wasn't part of that.  Never been to a rock concert, even though I did wear bell bottoms.

From Publishers Weekly

Det. Insp. Alan Banks investigates the apparently motiveless murder of Nicholas Barber, a rock journalist from London visiting a small town near Banks's Yorkshire police precinct, in Robinson's less-than-stellar 14th novel to feature the Yorkshire police detective. Meanwhile, another mystery unfolds in a parallel narrative, the fatal stabbing of a young woman at a local rock festival back in 1969. Needless to say, the cases are intertwined—as Banks puts it, "the past is never over"—and part of the pleasure is trying to piece together the links. Unfortunately, Robinson takes too long to connect the two stories, and the earlier thread suffers from the lack of Banks's engaging presence (though it does capture, with great fidelity, that odd mixture of self-absorption and idealism of the late 1960s and the whole hippie/rock music scene). As always, the author's prose is clear, observant and intelligent, but the story itself is not nearly as compelling as 2005's Strange Affair. 6-city author tour. (June)

Sunday Salon...

Well it's Sunday, and winter has reared it's very white head, here in the GTA, not sure how cold it is, but it's white again, or more white I should say.  I've done fairly well with my reading this week, finished How the Light Gets In, Louise Penny.  In my effort to read more Canadian authors, I chose this book on the recommendation of Shonna of the Canadian Book Worm.  Thanks Shonna.  I read at the bottom of the book description this is the ninth Inspector Gamache mystery, where have I been?  I love Armand.  I know I have read Louise Penny before, not sure which one though, I enjoyed it obviously as much as this one.  This was a murder mystery, with historical implications, all tightly woven in a thriller.  I was trying to cast the part of Armand (Hollywood style) and could only come up with my all time fav  Gregory Peck, now that says a lot, because I normally would cast Tom Sellick or Aidan Quinn, but they don't have that wonderful Peck quality.  It would have to be a young Peck. Like the time of Atticus Finch.  Now of course I have to go and read Pierre Berton's the Dionne Years, I remember having this on our reading list in highschool, but it never arrived in time for us to complete it, quite a lot of controversy about this one.  As a matter of fact, I've now searched 3 different cities in their libraries and had no luck,  is it a "forbidden read"? The mystery continues... I'll be calling the library board in the a.m.  A five star read.

“There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.” —Leonard Cohen. ( Love Leonard Cohen even if he is a bit weird.)

The next reading adventure was all Trish's fault.  I'm not big on graphic novels and Jenners almost had me convinced, but when Trish said she enjoyed this one, I thought "o.k. time to stop being so old, and venture into a new reading experience".   So I chose to read Maus,1: A survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History.

I was not disappointed, and I can see the purpose for graphic novels, they offer an avenue to tell a story in a format perhaps more appealing to a younger reader. I'm not a younger reader, but found the book easy enough to read.  Love the language used, even if it was a little stereotypical. Now I suppose I'll have to read the second part.

A four star read.



Beyond my reading adventures, I'm well on my way to finishing and oak desk for my son, to replace the one he lost in our flood.  wish I could get new arms, that sanding really does shake things up on an old babe, like me.  Needless to say pictures will follow.  AND, I'm almost done with a little painted sign for a friends business, for her ladies room.  It's coming out pretty cool.

My sister Donna is coming along very slowly, (she thinks she's fine) THANK YOU LORD.  We did a small road trip with her on Friday.

It was a good news week here on other fronts as well, so once again, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow, if good news is coming our way we can handle the shoveling

Up next in reading, hmm...Five Little Pigs, Agatha Christie (thanks Margaret Books Please)  

It's Monday What are you Reading... For Your Tomorrow...

It high time I let you know what one of the best books I've read this year was all about.  For Your Tomorrow, is a beautifully written Non fiction account of a young man who gave his life for his country and humanity.

The story line jumps between Canada, and Afghanistan. A beautifully written account of a young man who struggles with his decisions of career until he finds his "calling".  Feeling his duty to humanity so strongly that he gives his life.  This is the story of before and the after of that wonderful life.

The only problem I found reading this book was the constant need for tissues.  As I tend to read on public transit, this is a difficult thing to do, I found other passengers deeply affected by my weeping, some would write down the title, others would change seats.  I finished this book many weeks ago, but just couldn't write the review.  I don't like to read non-fiction.  Lets face it I like to pretend, but this was outstanding.  I ordered this book when it was first released, and then my son joined the army.  You can understand why it sat on my bookshelf.  My son has now moved on into another area.  I cannot imagine the feelings of those left behind.

Product description:

What compels a young, affluent Canadian to put on a uniform and risk his life for the controversial mission in Afghanistan? And how does his family cope with his loss when he is killed there? Jeff Francis was a thirty-year-old doctoral candidate and student of Buddhism when he decided that joining the armed forces was the best way to make a difference in the world. In elegant, spare prose that captures both the hardness of war and the nuances of a grieving family, Melanie Murray - Captain Francis's aunt - uses the lens of his life and death to give Canada's war in Afghanistan the perceptive, literary treatment its soldiers, families and citizens deserve.

I read this book as part of my War Through the Generations Challenge.  While this is not the Iraqi War/Gulf Wars, I felt I needed to be true to my Canadian self and my countries involvement in these wars.

 Rated - Excellent

Teaser Tuesday... For Your Tomorrow...

"A Hundred and fifty meters from the road, a squat earthen hut sits within the maze of vines.  It's normally used for turning green grapes into sweet raisins.  But for the men in the turbans, this grape-drying hut is a bunker.  The ventilation slits in its meter-thick walls make perfect ports for firing and surveillance."

Would you continue reading?

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of  Should Be Reading.




I wish I could say I'm reading this on my e reader, but I've just not gotten the hang of that, so it's a hardcover book.  One of my New Years resolutions is to read one book a month on e reader, and learn to audio read.  Next one maybe?

P.S. Much like many of you this is a difficult read it's just so "now".  I just feel I need to understand what's going on. 

It's Monday,what are you reading? Sanctuary Line

Book Description from Amazon.ca

Release Date: May 1 2012

A highly acclaimed national bestseller, Sanctuary Line is a riveting story of family legacies, love, betrayal and loss by award-winning author, Jane Urquhart.

Set in the present day on a farm at the shores of Lake Erie, Jane Urquhart's stunning new novel weaves elements from the nineteenth-century past, in Ireland and Ontario, into a gradually unfolding contemporary story of events in the lives of the members of one family that come to alter their futures irrevocably. There are ancestral lighthouse-keepers, seasonal Mexican workers; the migratory patterns and survival techniques of the Monarch butterfly; the tragedy of a young woman's death during a tour of duty in Afghanistan; three very different but equally powerful love stories. Jane Urquhart brings to vivid life the things of the past that make us who we are, and reveals the sometimes difficult path to understanding and forgiveness.

my thoughts:

Why I read this book? as   many of you may have presumed, I enjoy historical fiction.  In my effort to read at least 10% Canadian authors, I chose to read this book based on the conversations by the author and our news anchor on November 11, 2013 during the Rememberance Day celebration.

They went on and on, on the topic of repatriation of our fallen soldiers from Afghanistan and the Highway of Heroes, since I've always felt interested in this spontaneous phenomenon, I thought I'd give this novel a try, thinking I'd gain some special insight.  FORGET IT! it wasn't until page 165 this was briefly mentioned and I got NOTHIN' out of that.  This was singularly the most boring book I have ever read, the ending was predictable, the story line not exciting at all, yet there were elements that could have been.  I want to march in protest, on the over pass of the Highway of Heroes, she did not do it justice at all. 

I'm ever so glad I didn't buy this book. I loaned it from our library.  It will be some time if ever  that I read this author at again. 

  This is a weekly meme run by Book Journey!

Sunday Wrap up...

We are into the second day of a three day weekend here in Canada, and while I've washed floors and the like, I also managed to finish reading two books, (mostly because it's been a travel week again) The first The Lonley Polygamist, well how interesting.

I don 't know what I expected and I'm  not very knowledgeable about polygamy, however this was a very interesting read.  I was telling my painting pals about a particularly humorous part and we had the staff come in to see what we were all laughing about. This was one of the good things about this book, just when you  were ready to pull out your tissues (remember I read on public transit) you got this blast of laughter, so I still had people looking strangely at me. A very worthwhile read.

My second GOOD book of the week was Deloume Road.  In my effort to support Canadian Authors(as the mother of one)  I picked up this book recommended by Canadian BookWorm. I don't know what I expected in this one either, but it was a very good read, great character development, and unusual format. Enjoyed it immensley.

I "ll be looking for more from this author, and maybe he'll take me on a treck across Canada.

And now I'll enjoy my clean floors for just a few more hours, and then my men will come in from the great outdoor adventures and that will be another story.  Have a wonderful week.

Where are you Reading, Utah,(8states) British Coloumbia.

Support Your Local Library (#16)