it's Monday what are you reading?...

The Illusionist, Jennifer  Johnson

The Cay, Theodore Taylor

The Angel Makers, Jessica Gregson

This week I finished three books, shocking, two of which were quite short.  The Cay is described as a children's book.  I'm not sure that is the case, it is certainly a book told from the child's perspective.  I really never knew or should I say never thought about the impact of the war in the Caribbean. I felt that I had read extensively on the WWII and never thought about the Caribbean.  What a good story  The relationship of a young boy, in a lifeboat, and of a big black man.  Their survival on a small island, for many months.  They overcome prejudice, and hardship, thirst, and storm, and finally become good friends.

The Illusionist, the story of a young woman, and her daughter living a life of strangeness.  The Illusionist is just that, he creates an illusion around his life with his wife, and daughter and it isn't until he dies that the illusion bursts.  A story of a wife's abuse if not physical, certainly emotional.

and then The Angel Makers

Well this is yet another story of life in a very small Hungarian village, based on a true story.  Now this is an unusual look at life during WWI.  It deals with superstition, life in a very small community, post traumatic disorder, domestic abuse and yet love.  I believe these stories, simply because often my mom would talk about some of the goings on in her village.  Education for women and men was limited, those who embraced teaching their daughters to read was rare, let alone encouraged.  A wonderful look at interaction of POWs and villagers, people who really weren't affected by war directly except for the loss of husbands and sons.  Odd things happen during a war, perhaps a new look at the enemy?  Highly recommended.

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.