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!
Saturday, June 4, 2011
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.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Lit for Chicks
I love my local library. It has saved me many times from both boredom and financial problems- it would be easy for me to max out my credit card at the local bookstore! And while I love almost everything about the library, one thing drives me crazy. Chick Lit is not recognized as its own genre- it is lumped together with romance. I take great issue with this, because I think they are very distinct genres. For starters, chick lit is not about the romantic relationship-though that may play a large role- it is about the personal journey of the female protagonist. She faces struggles and difficulties with which the reader can sympathize, and though many chick lit novels are hysterically funny, they tend to pull at the heartstrings too. There seems to be more layers to (most) chick-lit novels than to the typical romance novel. The plot involves more than the classic boy meets girl, girl changes boy, boy marries girl scenario. They are usually more realistic and more real-life. And most importantly, I love a good chick lit novel, but I can barely tolerate romance novels!
My favourite chick lit authors are definitely Sophie Kinsella and Helen Fielding, but recently I've discovered another fabulous author- Jennifer Weiner. I first discovered Weiner when I read In her Shoes after seeing the movie. Having experienced my own up and down (but always there for each other) relationship with my own sister, I related to the story of the tumultuous relationship between two completely opposite sisters. Recently, I read Little Earthquakes at the recommendation of a co-worker who, as it turns out, has fabulous taste. This novel tells the story of four very different women and the way their funny, heartwarming and even tragic experiences with their pregnancies and children bring them together. This novel made me laugh and cry- I thought it was great. In Goodnight Nobody, a woman with three kids and an absentee husband moves to a Stepford-like community where she just doesn't fit in. When a seemingly perfect mommy is murdered, she is determined to find out what happened. This is more of a suspenseful read, although thoroughly enjoyable.
I hope to continue to add to my repertoire of fabulous chick lit authors. Happy reading!
My favourite chick lit authors are definitely Sophie Kinsella and Helen Fielding, but recently I've discovered another fabulous author- Jennifer Weiner. I first discovered Weiner when I read In her Shoes after seeing the movie. Having experienced my own up and down (but always there for each other) relationship with my own sister, I related to the story of the tumultuous relationship between two completely opposite sisters. Recently, I read Little Earthquakes at the recommendation of a co-worker who, as it turns out, has fabulous taste. This novel tells the story of four very different women and the way their funny, heartwarming and even tragic experiences with their pregnancies and children bring them together. This novel made me laugh and cry- I thought it was great. In Goodnight Nobody, a woman with three kids and an absentee husband moves to a Stepford-like community where she just doesn't fit in. When a seemingly perfect mommy is murdered, she is determined to find out what happened. This is more of a suspenseful read, although thoroughly enjoyable.
I hope to continue to add to my repertoire of fabulous chick lit authors. Happy reading!
Monday, July 12, 2010
I dare you to move
I enjoy a wide variety of novels, including historical fiction, action/thrillers, fantasy, chick lit, and humour. But every so often, I need to read a book that will stretch me and take me out of my comfort zone. I'm not talking about a different genre or style- I'm talking about those books that will move me and maybe even change me. Sarah's Key by Tatiana deRosnay is one of those books. Not only is it a great piece of historical fiction that will possibly teach you something new, but it will also break your heart and make you empathize and grieve for someone else. Sarah's Key is a powerful, gripping novel that just might change you.
The novel, like Kate Morton's The Forgotten Garden, takes place at different points in time. It alternates between ten-year old Sarah, living in Paris in 1942, and an American journalist living in Paris during the present day. Sarah awakens one morning to the French police pounding on her family's apartment door. She is taken away along with her Mother and Father, but not before she locks her little brother in a hidden cupboard, sure that she will return before long. In contemporary times, Julia is assigned a piece on the anniversary of the Vel d'Hiv roundup. As she investigates the historical events, she is shocked to learn that the culpability for the roundup extends to the French police force and government, and perhaps even to her husband's family. When she learns that young Sarah was arrested in the roundup, she is determined to discover what happened to the little girl.
If you are in the mood for that novel that will leave a lasting impact, give Sarah's Key a read. Though it is not a feel-good novel, it is deeply engrossing. I couldn't put it down.
The novel, like Kate Morton's The Forgotten Garden, takes place at different points in time. It alternates between ten-year old Sarah, living in Paris in 1942, and an American journalist living in Paris during the present day. Sarah awakens one morning to the French police pounding on her family's apartment door. She is taken away along with her Mother and Father, but not before she locks her little brother in a hidden cupboard, sure that she will return before long. In contemporary times, Julia is assigned a piece on the anniversary of the Vel d'Hiv roundup. As she investigates the historical events, she is shocked to learn that the culpability for the roundup extends to the French police force and government, and perhaps even to her husband's family. When she learns that young Sarah was arrested in the roundup, she is determined to discover what happened to the little girl.
If you are in the mood for that novel that will leave a lasting impact, give Sarah's Key a read. Though it is not a feel-good novel, it is deeply engrossing. I couldn't put it down.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Ah, white people!
I went camping with my husband and friends just before the Canada Day weekend. I'm not much of a camper- I feel very out of my element, and I'm sorry to say, my fellow campers usually feel the effects of my discomfort (ie. I can get pretty grumpy). Meanwhile, my husband, brother-in-law, and our friends, were in their element. This got me thinking about a very funny book called Stuff White People Like by Christian Lander. This book basically makes fun of white people in a good natured way, and it is sooo funny, especially because it's true. Some people (possibly with no sense of humour) have hinted that this book is racist, but I have to disagree. For one thing, it's written by a fellow white person, and for another, it's not racist to make fun of white people. Sorry, that's just how it is. Look at history- I think it's our turn.
Why did camping remind me of this book? Only because the entry on camping is one of my favourites. I am one of the few white people that does not enjoy camping, and this entry made me laugh especially hard. Take a look at this book if you need a laugh. You will not be disappointed!
Check out the book, and you can also check out the blog at http://www.stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/. Check out my favourites, #128 (Camping), #99 (Grammar), and #62 (Knowing what's best for poor people). Here's the first paragraph of #128:
"If you find yourself trapped in the middle of the woods without electricity, running water, or a car you would likely describe that situation as a “nightmare” or “a worse case scenario like after plane crash or something.” White people refer to it as “camping.”" Christian Lander, http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2009/08/14/128-camping/
So funny!
Why did camping remind me of this book? Only because the entry on camping is one of my favourites. I am one of the few white people that does not enjoy camping, and this entry made me laugh especially hard. Take a look at this book if you need a laugh. You will not be disappointed!
Check out the book, and you can also check out the blog at http://www.stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/. Check out my favourites, #128 (Camping), #99 (Grammar), and #62 (Knowing what's best for poor people). Here's the first paragraph of #128:
"If you find yourself trapped in the middle of the woods without electricity, running water, or a car you would likely describe that situation as a “nightmare” or “a worse case scenario like after plane crash or something.” White people refer to it as “camping.”" Christian Lander, http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2009/08/14/128-camping/
So funny!
Monday, June 21, 2010
The value of fiction
Some readers tend to view texts in a hierarchy. You have your "real books" at the top- non-fiction books mostly, then your highly acclaimed novels or enduring classics, then popular novels, with graphic novels and Harlequin romance novels at the very bottom. While I might agree with the manga and romance novels being at the bottom, I find it sad that so many readers- especially men- classify fiction as less valuable or worthy than non-fiction. I couldn't disagree more!
First, you have to consider the exposure to vocabulary. While you can also increase your vocabulary by reading non-fiction, I would wager that fictional novels contain words that are more conducive to everyday conversations- unless you discuss very specific topics on a daily basis. Then there's the spelling- some of the worst spellers that I know read very seldom, and some of the best spellers that I know are voracious readers. In a world where spelling and grammar are becoming a lost art, it really sets you apart as a professional when you have those communication skills.
Next, fictional novels can be very informative. I do enjoy the odd non-fiction book, but I just don't find them nearly as engrossing as a good novel. A well-researched novel can provide plenty of information, but in a way that captures the readers' interest and attention. I probably retain more information by reading fiction than non-fiction, just because I am so engaged. Fictional novels also bring the historical characters, events and issues to life, making the reader more likely to read more about the subject.
It's so important to have an imagination, and nothing feeds your imagination better than a good book. Without imagination, we wouldn't have innovation, creativity or even empathy. As Albert Einstein wrote, “Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.” Without imagination, we could never improve the world that we live in. There would be no spark, no magic, no beauty. In short, we would live in a dull, dreary and hopeless world.
A beautifully written and powerful novel can also teach us empathy. It's one thing to see a picture or to read a dry paragraph about a traumautic event suffered by someone unknown to us. That usually gives us a twinge, but it is nothing compared to the way words can infect our souls and stir our imaginations. Just think about it- when we read a novel, we put aside our own problems for a short while and we immerse ourselves into someone else's world. When an author imagines the thoughts, words and actions of a character, that person becomes a part of us. We share their fears, we weep for them and we laugh with them. We imagine ourselves in their place and we want to make their world-and consequently our world- a little bit better. Novels that feed our empathy- something so easy to turn off in this world of desensitization- truly make the world a better place because they help us to care a little more about others.
In short, the world would be an uglier place without the beauty of a good novel. And, perhaps even more tragically, nobody would know how to spell!
First, you have to consider the exposure to vocabulary. While you can also increase your vocabulary by reading non-fiction, I would wager that fictional novels contain words that are more conducive to everyday conversations- unless you discuss very specific topics on a daily basis. Then there's the spelling- some of the worst spellers that I know read very seldom, and some of the best spellers that I know are voracious readers. In a world where spelling and grammar are becoming a lost art, it really sets you apart as a professional when you have those communication skills.
Next, fictional novels can be very informative. I do enjoy the odd non-fiction book, but I just don't find them nearly as engrossing as a good novel. A well-researched novel can provide plenty of information, but in a way that captures the readers' interest and attention. I probably retain more information by reading fiction than non-fiction, just because I am so engaged. Fictional novels also bring the historical characters, events and issues to life, making the reader more likely to read more about the subject.
It's so important to have an imagination, and nothing feeds your imagination better than a good book. Without imagination, we wouldn't have innovation, creativity or even empathy. As Albert Einstein wrote, “Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.” Without imagination, we could never improve the world that we live in. There would be no spark, no magic, no beauty. In short, we would live in a dull, dreary and hopeless world.
A beautifully written and powerful novel can also teach us empathy. It's one thing to see a picture or to read a dry paragraph about a traumautic event suffered by someone unknown to us. That usually gives us a twinge, but it is nothing compared to the way words can infect our souls and stir our imaginations. Just think about it- when we read a novel, we put aside our own problems for a short while and we immerse ourselves into someone else's world. When an author imagines the thoughts, words and actions of a character, that person becomes a part of us. We share their fears, we weep for them and we laugh with them. We imagine ourselves in their place and we want to make their world-and consequently our world- a little bit better. Novels that feed our empathy- something so easy to turn off in this world of desensitization- truly make the world a better place because they help us to care a little more about others.
In short, the world would be an uglier place without the beauty of a good novel. And, perhaps even more tragically, nobody would know how to spell!
Monday, June 7, 2010
What's your number?
I have always been a giant bookworm. It runs in my family, at least among the females- my Grandmother, my Mum and my late sister are (were) all voracious readers. Whenever someone actually watches me read they get a little awed and slightly creeped out, or they accuse me of pretending to read because the women in my family are also very fast readers. We didn't take any speed reading courses or consciously try to read quickly. It's just how we read. I'm not sure if we're quick because we read so much, or maybe we read so much because we're quick. I knew I read faster than the average Joe, but nonetheless I was shocked and a little horrified to learn that the average person only reads about ten books per year...that's right...ten! That's less than one book a month!
This prompted me to start keeping a book journal, to determine how many books I read in a year. I created a spreadsheet on good old google docs to keep track. I'm not very good at updating it, and I'm sure I miss some, but I thought it would be interesting to at least get a pretty good estimate. I started the book journal on December 19th, 2009. Since then, I have read about 154 books of assorted genres, sizes and styles. Rounding today's date up about a week, that would be about six months, which means I read about 26 books a month, and about 6 books a week. We'll see how the journal continues, and in the meantime, I'm happy to be pulling up the average (though we can do better than 10 a year....seriously!).
So....what's your number?
This prompted me to start keeping a book journal, to determine how many books I read in a year. I created a spreadsheet on good old google docs to keep track. I'm not very good at updating it, and I'm sure I miss some, but I thought it would be interesting to at least get a pretty good estimate. I started the book journal on December 19th, 2009. Since then, I have read about 154 books of assorted genres, sizes and styles. Rounding today's date up about a week, that would be about six months, which means I read about 26 books a month, and about 6 books a week. We'll see how the journal continues, and in the meantime, I'm happy to be pulling up the average (though we can do better than 10 a year....seriously!).
So....what's your number?
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