What Books are you ENDING 2021 with?
DiscussionsCanadian Bookworms
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1LynnB
since we used "starting 2021 with" for 11 months, I thought it was time for a change!
I'm reading Trieste and the Meaning of Nowhere by Jan Morris
I'm reading Trieste and the Meaning of Nowhere by Jan Morris
2Cecilturtle
I'm reading Man's Search for Meaning by Vicktor Frankl. Seems fitting for a year end in these times!
3LibraryCin
Frozen in Time: The Fate of the Franklin Expedition / Owen Beattie, John Geiger
4 stars
This book first looks at the Franklin Expedition in the mid-1800s to find the Northwest Passage. Franklin and his entire crew of 129 people and two ships disappeared. In the years following, others set out to find them or some clue as to what had happened. In the early 1980s, Owen Beattie, a forensic anthropologist, and a team of others set out to the graves of three of the expedition members on Beatty Island to dig them up to do autopsies to see if that would tell them what had happened.
Surprisingly, I found the second half more interesting than the first. I guess all of it was potentially interesting to me, but I was surprised to be more engrossed in the parts as the modern-day scientists dug up the graves to find extremely well-preserved bodies and to read the details of their testing and what they found. Be warned that there are photos of the bodies that were dug up; of course, there are other interesting photos, as well.
4 stars
This book first looks at the Franklin Expedition in the mid-1800s to find the Northwest Passage. Franklin and his entire crew of 129 people and two ships disappeared. In the years following, others set out to find them or some clue as to what had happened. In the early 1980s, Owen Beattie, a forensic anthropologist, and a team of others set out to the graves of three of the expedition members on Beatty Island to dig them up to do autopsies to see if that would tell them what had happened.
Surprisingly, I found the second half more interesting than the first. I guess all of it was potentially interesting to me, but I was surprised to be more engrossed in the parts as the modern-day scientists dug up the graves to find extremely well-preserved bodies and to read the details of their testing and what they found. Be warned that there are photos of the bodies that were dug up; of course, there are other interesting photos, as well.
4rabbitprincess
>3 LibraryCin: The Franklin expedition that came to the Museum of History a few years ago had pictures of the bodies as well, and they put them in a sheltered area with a sign outside warning people about the photos. I appreciated that warning! Makes me think books should come with flaps to hide graphic photos.
5LibraryCin
>4 rabbitprincess: The bodies were very well preserved, so they weren't horrible (and I think that's why the authors included them... to show how well preserved they were after almost 150 years), but I figure some people would want to know. I read the ebook, so it's possible the printed book might mention it?
6Gail.C.Bull
Currently re-reading Pilgrim by Timothy Findley.
I read it quite a few years ago and I was surprised to find that I had only given it 3 stars. I usually like Findley's work so I had to revisit it to figure out why I gave it such a low rating.
To be honest, I think I may have already figured out why. In this book, he seems to glorify wealth and wealthy people to an almost "worshiping" level. THat's kind of surprising because he usually doesn't. In fact most of his books focus on the struggles of the outsider and the less fortunate so this book is very unlike anything else he's written.
I read it quite a few years ago and I was surprised to find that I had only given it 3 stars. I usually like Findley's work so I had to revisit it to figure out why I gave it such a low rating.
To be honest, I think I may have already figured out why. In this book, he seems to glorify wealth and wealthy people to an almost "worshiping" level. THat's kind of surprising because he usually doesn't. In fact most of his books focus on the struggles of the outsider and the less fortunate so this book is very unlike anything else he's written.
7LynnB
I'm reading Five Little Indians by Michelle Good
8Cecilturtle
I finished Mag or Min Which Are You, a simple decision-making framework which can be quite complex in its application to adapt to all sorts of circumstances.
It seems also fitting to end the year with Man's Search for Meaning by Vicktor Frankl.
I'm also finishing The Hotel New Hampshire by John Irving... not my favourite but it has that Irving energy and quirkiness.
It seems also fitting to end the year with Man's Search for Meaning by Vicktor Frankl.
I'm also finishing The Hotel New Hampshire by John Irving... not my favourite but it has that Irving energy and quirkiness.
9LibraryCin
Canada / Richard Ford
3 stars
In 1960, 15-year old Dell and his twin sister, Berner, are effectively “orphaned” when their parents are arrested for robbing a bank in North Dakota. Berner runs away and a family friend takes Dell over the Canadian border to a small town in Saskatchewan to live with and work for her brother.
The first paragraph sets things up, telling the reader of the bank robbery and also about murders, still to come. So, it starts with a “bang”, but after that, the book moves pretty slowly. That being said, I grew up in Southern Saskatchewan and thought the descriptions were very well done. It’s also always fun to recognize places, and there were a few really small towns mentioned nearby to where I lived. Overall, I’m considering this one “ok”.
3 stars
In 1960, 15-year old Dell and his twin sister, Berner, are effectively “orphaned” when their parents are arrested for robbing a bank in North Dakota. Berner runs away and a family friend takes Dell over the Canadian border to a small town in Saskatchewan to live with and work for her brother.
The first paragraph sets things up, telling the reader of the bank robbery and also about murders, still to come. So, it starts with a “bang”, but after that, the book moves pretty slowly. That being said, I grew up in Southern Saskatchewan and thought the descriptions were very well done. It’s also always fun to recognize places, and there were a few really small towns mentioned nearby to where I lived. Overall, I’m considering this one “ok”.
10LynnB
I'm reading Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson for the third time.
12LibraryCin
>11 LynnB: Ooh, enjoy! I read it early in the year for one of my book clubs. The author joined us for that one (via Zoom).
13LibraryCin
How Hard Can it Be? / Peter Wiebe, Diana Cruchley
3 stars
This is anecdotes of Peter Wiebe’s life, as told by him to his daughter. He was a Mennonite born in Saskatchewan and later lived in British Columbia. There was nothing extraordinary about his life, but his daughter wanted his memories to be written.
Peter Wiebe was a great-uncle of mine. I don’t believe Dad ever met him. The “stories” (more anecdotes, as they range from one paragraph to five or six, mostly) are ok. They are in Peter’s words, exactly; Diana did not edit them. They are not arranged chronologically, but each chapter is a topic. There is info about Canadian Prairie history, Mennonites in Western Canada, and life in general throughout the 20th century. Given that names are often reused in Mennonite families, the names were often familiar to me, even though they they weren’t people I actually know. And I “recognized” some of the situations and stories told, as similar to other situations and stories that I’ve heard in my family. There are photos included, and any info inserted by Diana is included in the captions to the photos, as well as a short introduction.
3 stars
This is anecdotes of Peter Wiebe’s life, as told by him to his daughter. He was a Mennonite born in Saskatchewan and later lived in British Columbia. There was nothing extraordinary about his life, but his daughter wanted his memories to be written.
Peter Wiebe was a great-uncle of mine. I don’t believe Dad ever met him. The “stories” (more anecdotes, as they range from one paragraph to five or six, mostly) are ok. They are in Peter’s words, exactly; Diana did not edit them. They are not arranged chronologically, but each chapter is a topic. There is info about Canadian Prairie history, Mennonites in Western Canada, and life in general throughout the 20th century. Given that names are often reused in Mennonite families, the names were often familiar to me, even though they they weren’t people I actually know. And I “recognized” some of the situations and stories told, as similar to other situations and stories that I’ve heard in my family. There are photos included, and any info inserted by Diana is included in the captions to the photos, as well as a short introduction.
14WeeTurtle
I haven't been reading as much lately, I've been busy with other things (and video games, I'll admit to that). I did pick up a copy of Darkdeep from the library because I saw it and thought it looked cool (judging books by their cover as well, bad me!)
I was at the library today though, getting some DVDs for mom ((since she tends to watch the same things every day) and I was checking out the book sale and found a book called A Number of Things: Stories of Canada Told Through Fifty Objects. I don't think I've head of it, nor do I know the author really, but it looked interesting.
I was at the library today though, getting some DVDs for mom ((since she tends to watch the same things every day) and I was checking out the book sale and found a book called A Number of Things: Stories of Canada Told Through Fifty Objects. I don't think I've head of it, nor do I know the author really, but it looked interesting.
15Cecilturtle
I've just finished The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, a bit of light philosophy to reconnect with the humble joys of life.
16LynnB
I'm reading The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi.
17librorumamans
I'm starting Joe Sacco's Paying the Land. It may be the last that I finish this year.
18LibraryCin
The Homecoming / Andrew Pyper
3.5 stars
Aaron, his mother, and his two sisters, Bridge and Fanny, are brought together at an isolated lodge/acreage(?) to be read the will of their father/husband, who had a fairly secret life, of which neither his kids, nor his wife knew much about. It turns out he was worth millions, but to be able to inherit this fortune, all four must stay at this lodge/acreage for 30 days with no contact with the outside world. They agree, but there are more surprises (and scares) to come.
I was reading this often while distracted. I really feel like I would have “enjoyed” the scary atmosphere of it more, had those distractions not been there. One thing I didn’t like, though, was that not everything was revealed to the reader at the end (unless I was distracted when it was?). Not everything I read needs to be tidied up at the end, but it seemed Aaron knew about it - it just wasn’t revealed to the reader, and I would have liked to have known what that little tidbit was. There were definitely some surprises I would not have guessed at.
3.5 stars
Aaron, his mother, and his two sisters, Bridge and Fanny, are brought together at an isolated lodge/acreage(?) to be read the will of their father/husband, who had a fairly secret life, of which neither his kids, nor his wife knew much about. It turns out he was worth millions, but to be able to inherit this fortune, all four must stay at this lodge/acreage for 30 days with no contact with the outside world. They agree, but there are more surprises (and scares) to come.
I was reading this often while distracted. I really feel like I would have “enjoyed” the scary atmosphere of it more, had those distractions not been there. One thing I didn’t like, though, was that not everything was revealed to the reader at the end (unless I was distracted when it was?). Not everything I read needs to be tidied up at the end, but it seemed Aaron knew about it - it just wasn’t revealed to the reader, and I would have liked to have known what that little tidbit was. There were definitely some surprises I would not have guessed at.
19LibraryCin
Bachelor Brothers' Bed and Breakfast / Bill Richardson
3 stars
50-something year old twins, Virgil and Hector, run a bed & breakfast on a small island between Vancouver Island and mainland British Columbia. There really isn’t much to do there beyond relax and read. Yet, the B&B has plenty of guests and the brothers are kept busy. This book includes anecdotes from both brothers, as well as some of the people who have stayed with them. Also included are a few “top 10” books (and authors) with various themes.
This is a bit of Canadian humour, parts made me smile and a few even made me laugh. I was ready to rate it “good” and I (mostly) did like it, but more so in the first half. The second half felt like it got a bit too philosophical for my liking. I liked that so many of the top 10 lists included Canadian authors.
3 stars
50-something year old twins, Virgil and Hector, run a bed & breakfast on a small island between Vancouver Island and mainland British Columbia. There really isn’t much to do there beyond relax and read. Yet, the B&B has plenty of guests and the brothers are kept busy. This book includes anecdotes from both brothers, as well as some of the people who have stayed with them. Also included are a few “top 10” books (and authors) with various themes.
This is a bit of Canadian humour, parts made me smile and a few even made me laugh. I was ready to rate it “good” and I (mostly) did like it, but more so in the first half. The second half felt like it got a bit too philosophical for my liking. I liked that so many of the top 10 lists included Canadian authors.
20LynnB
I'm reading The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown
21LibraryCin
Our Darkest Night / Jennifer Robson
3.75 stars
Antonina is a young Jewish woman in Italy. Her mother is not well. When the Nazis enter Italy, her father insists she goes away and hides, even though she must leave her parents behind. She is helped by a Catholic man, Nico, who had originally planned to become a priest. They pose as married, and she goes by Nina instead. They leave for his family’s home in a rural area. Unfortunately, someone Nico knew in his seminary (they didn’t get along) who was kicked out is now helping the Nazis, and he comes to keep watch on Nico.
I listened to the audio and it was done well. I rarely lost interest (which is always a risk with audio for me). I liked this. Like many, I have read plenty of WWII fiction, but in this case, I haven’t read much set in Italy. I am waffling between 3.5 stars (good) and 4 stars (really good). I might be hesitating on the 4 stars simply due to WWII overload. Often if a book makes me cry, that will be a 4 star rating. I almost cried – one or two tears at one point.
3.75 stars
Antonina is a young Jewish woman in Italy. Her mother is not well. When the Nazis enter Italy, her father insists she goes away and hides, even though she must leave her parents behind. She is helped by a Catholic man, Nico, who had originally planned to become a priest. They pose as married, and she goes by Nina instead. They leave for his family’s home in a rural area. Unfortunately, someone Nico knew in his seminary (they didn’t get along) who was kicked out is now helping the Nazis, and he comes to keep watch on Nico.
I listened to the audio and it was done well. I rarely lost interest (which is always a risk with audio for me). I liked this. Like many, I have read plenty of WWII fiction, but in this case, I haven’t read much set in Italy. I am waffling between 3.5 stars (good) and 4 stars (really good). I might be hesitating on the 4 stars simply due to WWII overload. Often if a book makes me cry, that will be a 4 star rating. I almost cried – one or two tears at one point.
22WeeTurtle
>19 LibraryCin: Now I need to know which island this was, having grown up in the area. Hornby maybe? Or Bowen? Gabriola? I'm curious now.
23LibraryCin
>22 WeeTurtle: LOL! I'm not sure that it said, specifically. Did he use a real island or just make one up? I'm not sure of that, either.
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