NOTE TO SELF: Wear gloves when using spray inks - This photo was taken after several scrubs ;)
In the past few months I seem to have stumbled upon the most amazing books which I have neglected to share...so here goes:
The Bishop's Man by Linden MacIntyre A riveting novel set in eastern Canada that follows Father Duncan MacAskill as he navigates a number of difficult situations faced by the Catholic church. He is haunted by memories in his past and the effects of choices and decisions that were not always within his control. The story involves scandal, wayward priests, and their effect on the community. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini The Kite Runner is a heartbreaking story of two young boys growing up in during the tumultuous history of Afghanistan. As the story unfolds, a short moment in time changes the trajectory of a life. It's about betrayal and redemption...a difficult but fascinating read. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini Another novel set during the upheaval experienced in Kabul, this one focuses on two women, the wives of a manipulative merchant. Theirs is a story of love and loss, of unlikely friendships and of the challenges faced by women who suffer without basic human rights. Divergent, Insurgent, and Allegiant by Veronica Roth This was a fantastic young adult trilogy set in a dystopian world where young adults choose to live in one of five factions when they turn sixteen - Candor (honest), Abnegation (selfless), Erudite (intelligent), Dauntless (brave) and Amity (peace). Initiation into the faction can be highly competitive, leaving some factionless and homeless. It's a great reflection on today's society and the human need for acceptance and belonging. Half Broke Horses by Jeanette Walls Some reads are particularly hard, especially The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls which I read a few years ago as it was a memoir of a difficult childhood. It always amazes me how people survive and even thrive under the most horrific circumstances and it was actually a treat to read this second novel as the author delved further back into her family's history. Everyone has a story to tell and challenges to overcome, and the generations that follow are also shaped by them. Sylvanus Now by Donna Morrisey I love stories set on the east coast, and this one did not disappoint. The story is set in a 1950's floundering fishing community and speaks to the conflicting desires to stay and to leave. Adelaide wants to escape her troubled family and the challenges of life in a fishing community but she is lead instead to the handsome and wilful Sylvanus whose life revolves around it. Bedtime Story by Robert J. Wiersema When I began reading this story it reminded me a little of The Princess Bride but as I read further it really stood on its own. It's filled with fantasy, magic and mystery. The story revolves around a man, a writer named Christopher Knox, and his 10-year-old son David and their bedtime story ritual. For his son's birthday, Christopher purchases an old copy of a book titled To the Four Directions which, as David begins reading on his own, causes a severe seizure and state of unconsciousness. His father begins a quest to save his son, as David, stuck in the story, faces his own quest. Comments are closed.
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