Pauline Holdstock

2.5 stars

There is a feral girl stealing from local people in a village in France. They try to catch her, but she gets away and ends up another village over. A farmer(?) there, Peyre, is intrigued by her. Peyre tries to entice her to come, as he’d like to see if he can “tame” her. He sees his son, whom he’s lost a while back, in her.

This started off really slow and I wasn’t interested. Parts I didn’t like and just skimmed through were mostly Peyre’s background (though I eventually got the gist of at least what happened with his son and wife). It was only the last half or 1/3 of the book, which focused more on the girl, where I was a bit more interested in what was happening. The ending was open-ended, so I wasn’t a big fan not really knowing what had happened there.… (plus d'informations)

"I will tell you first how I got on board without a ticket...." I picked this up just before heading out for a road trip, thinking that it was a most fitting first line.
Frankie is someone that thinks like an adult and doesn't care that the world around him might think he's just kid. He discovers one morning that his mother isn't just sleeping in her big chair. Once at school, he tells his teachers of his discovery but no one is listening because he's only six, and he's Frankie.
Quickly, he devises a plan unlike any other, because that was what he was promised! Setting off a grand adventure of a lifetime, only he forgets to tell his Dad.
You will find that this high-seas adventure is one of the most absorbing books of the year. I loved every moment.
Oh! I almost forgot to tell you: This book might remind you of past favorites, but it will be one that you won’t soon forget.… (plus d'informations)

An important slice of Canadian/British history, based on historical facts. There is a lot to like about this book, especially if the reader is interested in the history of the Indigenous Canadian people and how the arrival of Europeans affected their way of life. This story takes place well after the arrival of the first Europeans, the Indigenous people are used to trading with the English, have become dependent on guns and developed a taste for rum and brandy. The British men take (seemingly not forcibly) temporary wives, then leave them behind when they return to England. The religious aspect is not a factor here, there are no priests actively trying to convert anyone and the residential schools are not an issue either.

My only concern was feeling a bit removed from the characters, I just didn't feel really engaged all the time. Otherwise an interesting read!
… (plus d'informations)