More Great Canadian Fiction!

dear readers,

It has been a rainy day in Vancouver, BC and I have been feeling a bit under the weather so it has been a great day to read :) I continued to enjoy Alice Munro: My Best Stories (also called Alice Munro's Best: Selected Stories) - some stories were new to me and some were like revisiting old friends...

Alice Munro: My Best Stories
written by Alice Munro
genre: short stories, fiction, canadian literature


5 STARS 

This collection of short fiction includes her works from the 1970s to present day. All of the stories have been published before in other volumes. This collection also has an introduction written by another Canadian author, Margaret Atwood.

As the title states these are Alice Munro's best short fiction.  The Canadian author recently won the Pulitizer for her writing and hopefully this will increase her readership and gain more fans.  I have been reading Munro since I was in my early teens and have been in love with her work for years.  She has the ability to take a story and that most authors would need a novel to tell and condense it to size of a novella.  She is able to pack so much into them without it being overwhelming.  A great collection to introduce or revisit Munro.

Alice Munro: My Best was published October 2009.

Off to choose my next read :)

love,
kris 

Lauren B. Davis Novels Reviewed

dear readers,

Lauren B. Davis has been on my TBR (to be read) list since 2005 after picking up The Stubborn Season on sale at the local bookstore.  The cover drew me in and the depression era storyline sounded intriguing.  Sadly it took me eight years to read Davis and that has been my loss for sure.  For our November book club selection we decided to try Davis's Our Daily Bread - published in 2011.  I started this novel knowing only that it has been described as "backwoods noir".  And, the result...

OUR DAILY BREAD
written by Lauren B. Davis
genre: canadian literature, literary fiction, noir, suspense

4.5 STARS


Inspired by true events - In Davis's haunting story we meet Albert Erskine, a smart 21 year old who sells weed to make money.  He and his family are shunned by the town of Gideon and are called the "Mountain People".  Living among his clan Albert has seen and been through many horrors and it has caused him to become more frustrated and angry.

Soon Albert becomes a mentor to a young boy in town names Bobby Evans.  Bobby and his family also do not fit in among the religious town people.  His father, Tom is well-liked but is ridiculed for his younger wife's unfaithfulness.  Ivy, his sister, is brilliant but bullied by girls in her class.  Her only friend is Dorothy, the 60-something widow who owns the antique shop.  Dorothy sees the righteousness attitude in her peers and tries to stay away from them.  

As we get to know these characters that are considered the "others" in Gideon Davis also shows what can happen when we let some people int our life.

After dinner one night I sat down to start Our Daily Bread, hoping that I could finish the novel in the next few days, in time for my book cub meeting.  The next time I came up for air was when the novel finished.  The way Davis grabs you from the beginning with her characters and plot is amazing.  Even if you cannot relate to the characters personally you can empathize and feel for them.  These are not good or bad people but normal people with every day flaws.  I found myself attached to all the characters - loving and hating them or their actions.

The story, even if it was not based on true events, still lingers in my mind and i think about it time to time.  It was a book we all liked in my book club and it provided us with a great conversation. I recommend this novel to everyone who appreciates a good novel.  



My book club and I enjoyed this novel so much and were greatly impressed with Lauren B. Davis's writing we selected The Empty Room as our December pick.  We have read multiple books by an author in our book club but never back to back...

THE EMPTY ROOM
written by Lauren B. Davis
genre: canadian literature, literary fiction

4 STARS

Colleen wakes up hungover and only has flashes of the night before. As the day progresses her alcoholism comes to the forefront. Colleen thinks back of her family and how drinking and other drugs were the ruination of many of her relatives. Drinking themselves to suicide, accidents,etc. As people bring her drinking to her attention this only causes Colleen to get defensive and retreat. At the end of the day will Colleen admit her problem and seek help? 

I was impressed with the way Davis was able to make Colleen's life and alcoholism work within a day. We were able to see Colleen's past through flashbacks and interactions with her mother, father and lovers. I like that the chapters were broken up into smaller sections so that the flashbacks were able to flow better. While Colleen is not an overly sympathetic character you still want to follow her story and want her to get sober. The secondary characters help the tension in the story and give Colleen further dimension. I am sold on Davis's novels!


In 2014 I am looking forward to finally reading The Stubborn Season!

love, 

kris 

For more information on Lauren and her books visit her at:
http://laurenbdavis.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Laurenbdaviswriter

REVIEW: TATTOOED (Book 3) Pamela Callow

dear readers,

I discovered Pamela Callow with her first novel and have loved her books since...oh, she's Canadian, too! (I received an ARC for Tattooed from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).

TATTOOED

(Kate Lange: Book 3)

Written by Pamela Callow

genre: mystery, suspense, thriller

3.5 STARS

Kate Lange's past is coming front and center staring with France Sloan. Frances has ALS and wants Kate to lobby for assisted suicide on her behalf. Frances is the mother of Kenzie Sloan who was once friends with Imogen. It was Kenzie's house party that Kate dragged Imogen from and ultimately led to the car accident and Imogen's death. The memories flood back as Kenzie, now a tattoo artist, is coming to visit with her mother in her final days. Kenzie's former boy friend, McNally, has also been recently released from prison and has his sight on both Kenzie and Kate.
With Randall in New York, Kate is unsure where there relationship stands and if she should wait for him. Ethan Drake her former fiancee has decided he wants to try again and will do anything for her. In the next few days things from the past will bubble to the present and only some will make it through.

I love Kate Lange and this series. I like that it is set in Eastern Canada but not in Toronto (set in Nova Scotia). I remember the Sue Roderiguez case and how it affected everyone. I liked the plot of this book but it some how felt impersonal. Every sub-plot seemed a bit rushed but this is in comparison to rest of the series. I still liked this novel and would recommend this series.

PAST REVIEWS OF BOOK #1 & #2:

DAMAGED
(Kate Lange: Book One)
genre: mystery, thriller, suspense

4 STARS

Damaged is Callow's debut suspense novel but don't try to label it as just a medical or legal thriller because you will miss out on SO much.  Kate Lange, a new lawyer in Nova Scotia, is being haunted by her past (her sister's death and the break up of her engagement) so throws herself into a new case.  Her legal advice to her new client appears to have led to her granddaughter's death.  As Kate tries to clear her reputation she is thrown  in the path of a serial killer!

A new favourite character and author! A strong female character and I love mysterious brooding Randall! I cannot wait to get my hands on the 2nd Kate Lange book. I also really like the fact that it is set in Nova Scotia, Canada versus Vancouver or Toronto.

INDEFSIBLE

(Kate Lange: Book Two)

genre: mystery, thriller, suspense

4 STARS

A great follow up book to Damaged. Randall Barrett is looking forward to spending time with his children this summer but things go wrong from the beginning.  First his son decides to go camp instead of sailing with him, and his ex-wife reveals a devastating secret in the heat of an argument.  The next morning his ex-wife is found dead from a fall of the balcony and he is the main suspect. 

Kate lange is an associate at his law firm and just months ago they had sparks fly and they are still burning.  Will Kate be able to help Randall when everyone else has left him to drown.

I love that these novels are set in Halifax, Nova Scotia (Canada) versus the usual Vancouver or Toronto setting.  Callow being a lawyer and from Halifax brings out the realism in the novel.  It is a quick pace thriller.


love,
kris