Winter of the World - Ken Follett

Follett's capacity to create a world that immerses its readers in both the characters and settings is amazing. Winter of the World follows on from his earlier success with Fall of Giants.  In Winter of the World, Follett takes readers through the Great Depression and World War Two.  Interestingly, the main characters in this book are the children of the characters from Fall of Giants.  I enjoyed seeing the characters evolve from impulsive and sometimes shallow young adults into (mostly) mature and thoughtful adults.  While the era is dark, you still find yourself want to get wrapped up in Follett's world.  He takes you into compelling times, events and places, including: The Manhattan Project, Stalinist Russia, Hitler's Germany, the Spanish Civil War, and follows the ascent of Churchill.  It's a page turner with substance!  Recommended!!

A friend suggested this book to me and I've since recommended it to others.  The reactions are always fantastic -- it would seem to have universal appeal.  5/5 Stars

Forgotten - Catherine McKenzie

Amid some great books that I read over the Christmas holidays was Forgotten by Catherine Mackenzie.  It tells the story of a lawyer who goes to Africa after her mother dies only to become trapped there after a natural disaster.  When she finally returns home, she finds that she has been declared deceased.  The book then follows the challenges she faces after finding this out.  Conceptually, this sounds really interesting.  However, its exploration of this issue is quite shallow and the main character is unbearably self-centered.  On the plus side, it is an easy read. 2/5 Stars.

Mister Roger and Me - Marie-Renée Lavoie, Wayne Grady (Translator)

This book won the French version of Canada Reads and I can certainly see why.  At its core, it's a coming of age story.  Helen (or Joe as she prefers to be called) is a young girl growing up in a tough area of Montreal.  The author uses this device to touch on issues related to growing up poor, but also on the effects of changing mental health policies.  The characters are unique and interesting and while the story itself is quite bleak, Lavoie's tone keeps some levity in place.  A book well worth reading for its many nuances. 5-Stars.