This months lecture on MacNabs island was very interesting. Combined my love of genealogical research and archeaology. The archeaology Society put on a good show as usual with Vanessa Smith as presentor.
Category: Books
The Douglas Notebooks:A Fable by Christine Eddie
This little story had a big impact. It’s a story of broken families, true love, grief, and the search for meaning in life. What we all hope to obtain in life, the ultimate, love and acceptance. A child is born and a mother lost and the father is disabled by grief. She is taken in and loved by two people brought together, one out of love for the childs mother and another with a sense of duty that turns into a deep affection that mends her broken soul. The child grows and rekindles a relationship with her father. They except each other for who they are. Music is a prominent theme in this book. Bringing people together. Mending a broken heart and soothing a grief stricken soul. It was a quick read I really enjoyed.
Loves
The Past by Tessa Hadley
I finished this book recently, it had been one of Steven Kings suggestions in his book On Writing. It’s about a family past and present. The characters are likable and vivid. There are quite a few passages I had to highlight because of the quality of writing in this book. When a sentence can evoke a feeling in the reader, that sends chills down my spine. It’s a gift really. Not many have the skill to bring the reader into the mind of a character. Definitely worth a read.
Loves
I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
I’m quite taken by Maya Angelou’s poetic writings. I often end up highlighting a number passages to re-read later. The story is about a young black girl, growing up in the racist south. I’m fascinated by the walk in another’s shoes that is provided in Angelou’s stories. It’s heart breaking and eye opening. In this time of unrest, we need to be reminded to open our eyes to what we don’t understand. To walk a few steps in another’s shoes.
God Help The Child by Toni Morrison
I’m a fan of Toni Morrison. What she can say in a sentence, another writer takes a paragraph. This story about a women feeling like an ugly duckling and growing into a swan, I felt was well written, On the surface it’s a compelling story, but I feel like I need to read it again to understand some of the nuances. It’s a quick read.
See Jane Run by Joy Fielding
I’m way behind sharing my book adventures. I finished See Jane Run ages ago. It was a book that Stephen King recommended in his book “On Writing”. It was a page turner for sure. From the first page there is a mystery, who am I? Not remembering who you are has got to be one of the scariest things a person can go through I think. The reader follows a women around as she discovers more about herself, what she discovers is disturbing. This book is definitely worth a read.
Airy Scarf
I decided to shop in my own stash and found this pretty peach color alpaca/silk blend. The pattern is from one of my favourite books,”Last-minute knitted gifts” by Joelle Hoverson.
A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler
This story is about a quirky family, told from different members’ viewpoints through the recall of memories. Like we all do when families get together. The telling and re telling of family folklore has always been a tradition in my family so I appreciated this style of writing. A house plays a prominent role in this story also. Houses don’t make a home, families do but it provides an interesting landscape. I felt like I needed to re read this novel after I read the last page. The undercurrents of meaning drifting in and out of the different stories connects them. I’m afraid I might have missed something. The author uses innuendo and suggestion to tell this brilliant story. I like working my mind a little when I read it helps keep me engaged and in the world the author has created instead of my own. Easier to escape that way:)
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
This book I finished a couple weeks ago. Another great story by Gillian Flynn that will soon be released in movie theatres. Dark places tells the story of Libby Day and her troubled childhood. Her family devastated, she comes to a new understanding of what it all meant when her family was murdered. This author seems to bring new meaning to the old adage “A twist of fate”.
The Death of Bees By Lisa O’Donnell
I finished this book last night. It was a page turner from the beginning. It’s a sad story of two girls, sisters, who struggle through abandonment by their parents, and develop a family bond that can’t be broken. They are harbouring a secret that keeps them prisoner, to the system and the life they are trapped in. This was Lisa O’Donnell’s first novel. Well done!
Dawn's Chronicles 