Sisterhood. It's really a strange relationship, filled with tears, laughter and the odd screaming match. If you're like me, your sister fills some of your most intense memories, good, bad and silly. When I lost my sister to a sudden illness two years ago, I realized that she was my best friend. It's sad that I didn't know it until she was gone. We were very different and we drove each other crazy, but she was my sister, my buddy, my co-conspirator, my scapegoat, my confider and my friend. I miss her every day.
Recently I read Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur. It is a powerful juvenile novel about a young girl who is transformed by loss. Her younger sister dies in the story, and I found myself sobbing as I identified with her anger, grief and confusion. The novel was cathartic for me, for it seems that the loss of a sibling is seldom discussed. It is such an unusual relationship; our siblings are our past, present and future. Losing one is truly like losing a part of yourself. Aubrey's story resonated with me as she coped with her loss, grieved and ultimately moved forward. The most moving parts of the story reduced me to a little girl, missing her big sister.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
To e-read or not to e-read?
When e-books first came out, I was quite resistant to the whole idea. I couldn't imagine giving up so-called "real books" to read a soulless, uninviting electronic file. As time went by, I gradually opened my mind to the whole idea. As a fast reader, I often brought several books with me on vacation (this didn't work so well when I was flying). I wanted the practicality of bringing a dozen books with me without taking up so much space. My husband sure didn't enjoy stopping constantly on road trips to buy books and it just seemed like the smarter way to go. I wasn't willing to give up my "pretty" books- my shelf full of old hardcover books just can't be replaced by an electronic shelf- but for the everyday read it seemed like a great option. Once I embraced the e-reading movement, I started thinking about what type of device to buy. At first I only considered the e-reader options but when the tablets started to come out, I wondered if that would be a better way to go.
I am not good at making decisions and I was torn. I loved the idea of the "smart ink" technology on many E-readers since it would seem more like a real book, but I also loved the functionality and practicality of the tablets. My laptop, at four years of age, was a bit of a senior citizen and my techno-savvy husband recommended the ipad for its high quality and great features. I started to lean towards the tablet side of the question and although I considered other brands, the ipad2 just seemed to be the best option for me. My husband very kindly bought me one for my birthday in July and I love it! I take it with me wherever I go and I use it constantly, particularly for reading and for the internet. Sometimes I wish I had chosen an e-reader because there can be glare on the screen when you are reading outside or in the car, but I absolutely love the other features of the ipad. One great feature is the fact that I am not limited to one merchant; I can purchase books from ibooks, Amazon and Kobo. I love this because I can shop around for the best price and use a variety of gift cards. Sometimes I have to check all three just to find the book I'm looking for so it works well to have the choice. I would consider that a significant drawback if I could only buy from one merchant because of the e-reader brand.
One of the perks of e-books is the price. For example, when I decided to read the Game of Thrones series, I found the first four books for $15.00 on Amazon. You can't beat that. Or when the last Jack Reacher book came out, I was able to purchase it for only $12.00 (rather than the $30 in stores) and my husband and I were able to read it at the same time, on different devices. As well, I can borrow books from the public library without having to leave my home and I never get overdue fees since the books are removed automatically from my device.
Although I will continue to buy hardcover classics to decorate my living room, it feels very liberating to stop cluttering up my house with books I probably won't read again. I have embraced it wholeheartedly and I don't plan to go back. Anyone who is resistant to the e-book movement, keep an open mind. You just might love it!
I am not good at making decisions and I was torn. I loved the idea of the "smart ink" technology on many E-readers since it would seem more like a real book, but I also loved the functionality and practicality of the tablets. My laptop, at four years of age, was a bit of a senior citizen and my techno-savvy husband recommended the ipad for its high quality and great features. I started to lean towards the tablet side of the question and although I considered other brands, the ipad2 just seemed to be the best option for me. My husband very kindly bought me one for my birthday in July and I love it! I take it with me wherever I go and I use it constantly, particularly for reading and for the internet. Sometimes I wish I had chosen an e-reader because there can be glare on the screen when you are reading outside or in the car, but I absolutely love the other features of the ipad. One great feature is the fact that I am not limited to one merchant; I can purchase books from ibooks, Amazon and Kobo. I love this because I can shop around for the best price and use a variety of gift cards. Sometimes I have to check all three just to find the book I'm looking for so it works well to have the choice. I would consider that a significant drawback if I could only buy from one merchant because of the e-reader brand.
One of the perks of e-books is the price. For example, when I decided to read the Game of Thrones series, I found the first four books for $15.00 on Amazon. You can't beat that. Or when the last Jack Reacher book came out, I was able to purchase it for only $12.00 (rather than the $30 in stores) and my husband and I were able to read it at the same time, on different devices. As well, I can borrow books from the public library without having to leave my home and I never get overdue fees since the books are removed automatically from my device.
Although I will continue to buy hardcover classics to decorate my living room, it feels very liberating to stop cluttering up my house with books I probably won't read again. I have embraced it wholeheartedly and I don't plan to go back. Anyone who is resistant to the e-book movement, keep an open mind. You just might love it!
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Not your typical dracula novel
I was looking for a new book to read at my local bookstore. I don't like to go to the bookstore with nothing in particular in mind because I usually end up buying something that fails to deliver. The book ends up sitting on my shelf collecting dust after that initial read and I experience buyer's remorse. Because I was desperate for a new book, I took the chance- and I'm so happy I did! I stumbled upon Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian and it is a winner.
The Historian is written in the style of a Victorian gothic novel, yet is is immensely readable. Kostova delivers layer upon layer of suspense at just the right pace, which kept me glued to the pages. A young girl follows her father across Europe, learning as she does so about her parents's mysterious contacts with the bloodthirsty noble believed to be long dead- no other than Vlad the Impaler. Immersing herself in her father's fascinating story, she finds herself increasingly in danger from the unbelievable evil her father has discovered.
Like Morton's The Forgotten Garden, the story is told from the perspective of several characters over a long period of time. Their stories weave together, sometimes abstractly, piecing together cohesively at the end. Yet it couldn't be more different from Morton's novel-in short, The Historian is a vampire novel. Before you lose interest, you should know that this is no twilight or Sookie Stackhouse novel. Instead it is literary, heavily researched and so enjoyable to read. Mingled with the supernatural and suspenseful elements are historical details about the Ottoman Empire and Eastern Europe. This novel might even teach you an historical fact or two. If vampire novels aren't your thing- keep an open mind. This is surprisingly light on gore and oh so good! This book has put me in the mood to read Bram Stoker's Dracula and Kostova's newest novel, The Swan Thieves. Happy Reading!
The Historian is written in the style of a Victorian gothic novel, yet is is immensely readable. Kostova delivers layer upon layer of suspense at just the right pace, which kept me glued to the pages. A young girl follows her father across Europe, learning as she does so about her parents's mysterious contacts with the bloodthirsty noble believed to be long dead- no other than Vlad the Impaler. Immersing herself in her father's fascinating story, she finds herself increasingly in danger from the unbelievable evil her father has discovered.
Like Morton's The Forgotten Garden, the story is told from the perspective of several characters over a long period of time. Their stories weave together, sometimes abstractly, piecing together cohesively at the end. Yet it couldn't be more different from Morton's novel-in short, The Historian is a vampire novel. Before you lose interest, you should know that this is no twilight or Sookie Stackhouse novel. Instead it is literary, heavily researched and so enjoyable to read. Mingled with the supernatural and suspenseful elements are historical details about the Ottoman Empire and Eastern Europe. This novel might even teach you an historical fact or two. If vampire novels aren't your thing- keep an open mind. This is surprisingly light on gore and oh so good! This book has put me in the mood to read Bram Stoker's Dracula and Kostova's newest novel, The Swan Thieves. Happy Reading!
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Another winner by Katherine Morton
Don't you love those books that you just can't put down? The ones that you devour in a single sitting? The ones that you anticipate getting back to when you have to put them down?
Katherine Morton is that kind of author for me. I have read her books eagerly and they provide a welcome escape from daily life. Her books combine mystery, tragedy, suspense and romance in just the right combination that keeps you fully immersed in the story. My favourite Morton novel is The Forgotten Garden, a novel that I have recommended to other readers. I love the way she tells the story across several generations, through the voices of various strong female protagonists. I especially love the way she incorporates fairy tales into the novel, using them to help the reader piece the story together. And though I figured out the biggest mystery before it was revealed in the final pages, it did not fail to capture me.
Morton's newest novel, The Distant Hours, delivers another great story of passion and tragedy and family relationships. Elements of the gothic seep into the story, setting an intense pace at times. Again, the story takes place across several generations; a young woman tries to learn more about her mother by visiting the castle where her mother was billeted as a child during World War II. By interviewing the elderly sisters who inhabit the castle, Edie learns about her mother, while also solving an old unsolved mystery. Again, Morton uses stories to set the tone; a haunting children's book is the basis for the mystery of the novel. While she uses the same formulas in each of her novels, the stories are fresh and it feels like you can connect to the many protagonists who each help to unravel the mystery.
I look forward to continued work by Katherine Morton; I only hope that she can continue to incorporate new story lines so that her work does not become simply a tried and true formula.
Katherine Morton is that kind of author for me. I have read her books eagerly and they provide a welcome escape from daily life. Her books combine mystery, tragedy, suspense and romance in just the right combination that keeps you fully immersed in the story. My favourite Morton novel is The Forgotten Garden, a novel that I have recommended to other readers. I love the way she tells the story across several generations, through the voices of various strong female protagonists. I especially love the way she incorporates fairy tales into the novel, using them to help the reader piece the story together. And though I figured out the biggest mystery before it was revealed in the final pages, it did not fail to capture me.
Morton's newest novel, The Distant Hours, delivers another great story of passion and tragedy and family relationships. Elements of the gothic seep into the story, setting an intense pace at times. Again, the story takes place across several generations; a young woman tries to learn more about her mother by visiting the castle where her mother was billeted as a child during World War II. By interviewing the elderly sisters who inhabit the castle, Edie learns about her mother, while also solving an old unsolved mystery. Again, Morton uses stories to set the tone; a haunting children's book is the basis for the mystery of the novel. While she uses the same formulas in each of her novels, the stories are fresh and it feels like you can connect to the many protagonists who each help to unravel the mystery.
I look forward to continued work by Katherine Morton; I only hope that she can continue to incorporate new story lines so that her work does not become simply a tried and true formula.
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