Latest and Greatest Reads

A quick run down of books I've read since our whirlwind trip back to Canada.  I've been fortunate to read some winners.

My Name is Mary Sutter

This is a book that deserves to be read in one or two sittings.  I had actually taken it back to Canada and found that I couldn't really get into it as I was reading it in fits and starts.  Once I had time to sink into it, I really enjoyed it.  Mary Sutter is a favorite in my "females who kick butt" category.  Taking place during the civil war, Mary is a midwife who pushes hard to become a surgeon.  The war provides an interesting backdrop for a woman on a relentless quest to fulfill her dream.

The Lightening Field 

An excellent Canadian debut by Heather Jessup.  I might never have discovered this book, but a fellow Kiwi-Canadian brought a copy along to her book club.  It turned out she had attended the same academic institution as Heather and was keen to read a book by her friend.  I'm glad she did as this book tells a fantastic tale of family trials, alongside the Canadian airplane the Arrow.  This plane is a legend in Canada as it was an engineering marvel that fell victim to budget cuts (allegedly--though there are other suspicions).  I loved learning more about the story of the Arrow and its dramatic fall.  

Still Life 

Loved this book and am so happy to know that I've got heaps of Louise Penny books ahead of me.  This is a mystery novel that takes place in a small Quebec hamlet, with all the quirks that go along with small town life.  The characters are vivid, the mystery well described, and with a great twist at the end.  Run, don't walk to the library and/or bookstore and get this book.  Perfect for a rainy weekend or a beachy holiday.

Denniston Road

I was talking to a co-worker about visiting the west coast of New Zealand's South Island and she asked if we'd visited the old coal mining town of Denniston (which I hadn't).  That got us on to the topic of this book and she kindly lent me a copy.  This is a fantastic history of life in a bleak New Zealand coal mining community.  Patrick's descriptions really made me feel like I was right there and I enjoyed reading the story from multiple viewpoints.  Worth a read to get a feel for New Zealand's mining history.

Round-Up of the Recent

Historical Fiction

Birth House - Ami McKay - 5 Stars

Virgin Cure - Ami McKay - 5 Stars

The Conductor - Sarah Quigley - 4 Stars

The Report - Jessica Frances Kane - 4 Stars

Crime Fiction

Containment - Vanda Symon - 4 Stars

Bound - Vanda Symon - 4 Stars

A Darker Domain - Val McDermind - 4 Stars

It's Not You It's Me or Is It? - Curiosity by Joan Thomas

In my two experiences of Joan Thomas books (Reading by Lightening and now, Curiosity), I always start out strong and think "wow, this is going to be a great book". Yet, somehow by the end, I'm always looking forward to being done.  I don't know if it's that they're too long, but I'm perplexed by this reaction as I don't shy away from long books (and at 400 pages, this is hardly a "chunkster").  The story itself follows the path of an early female archaeologist (Mary Anning) and how her social class and to some extent gender prevent her from achieving the success she's earned and deserves.  A related story explores her relationship with another scientist of the day: Henry de la Beche.  All in all, an interesting read but not a riveting one.

A friend of mine mentioned that Tracy Chevalier has also tackled Mary Anning--perhaps I'll have to give that book a try.

Books with Some Weight on Them: Fall of Giants and the Leopard

In Fall of Giants, Ken Follett crafts an amazing portrait of the US, Wales/England, France, and Russia both before and during the first world war.  He explores class structures and how the war begins to break these down.  It takes 800+ pages to do, but it goes quickly and is a journey well worth taking.

The Leopard by Jo Nesbo also falls into the "chunkster" category and while I enjoyed the mystery and the flawed character of Harry Hole, I thought that the length could have been reduced.  In particular, the writing at the beginning might have been a bit tighter.  Just a slightly lower BMI and this book could have gone from good to great.

Two Great Satires - Best Laid Plans and The Sisters Brothers

Terry Fallis writes a wonderfully funny political satire, while Patrick Dewitt takes on the old west.  Both are funny, clever, and well worth picking up!

No Great Mischief - Alistair MacLeod

A modern Canadian classic that I have finally tackled!  It describes the MacLeod clan from their early days in Cape Breton through to modern day Toronto.  The family's fierce loyalty to one another was the dominant theme and spoke to the character's actions and choices.  Definitely a good read, but I couldn't help comparing it to Galore.  In Galore, I found an even more intriguing family. 4/5 Stars.

The Kitchen House - Kathleen Grissom (continuing the colossal catch-up)

The Kitchen House describes the story of a white servant (Lavinia) on a plantation in the deep south of the US.  It explores her relationship with the black slaves and the white landowners, as well as her inability to fit comfortably within either society.  This book was well written and I made my way through it quite quickly.  I did find the character of Lavinia to be a bit weak at times, but this didn't detract too much from the book. It's still worth picking up!  4/5 stars