BEST IN SHOW

Eating the Dinosaur by Chuck Klosterman
https://www.somisguided.com/weblog/comments/book-review-eating-the-dinosaur-by-chuck-klosterman/

My number 1, absolute favourite book this year, was Eating the Dinosaur, Chuck Klosterman’s sixth book.

Scribner, 2010
$19.99 paperback

The Waterproof Bible by Andrew Kaufman
https://www.somisguided.com/weblog/comments/book-review-the-waterproof-bible-by-andrew-kaufman/

Kaufman’s first novel is a brilliant allegorical tale partly set in Winnipeg. I loved everything about this book and will continue to read and re-read it until Kaufman publishes another novel.

Random House Canada, 2010
$27.00 hardcover

MY TOP FICTION READS

The Retreat by David Bergen: Great summer novel set in Kenora, ON.
https://www.somisguided.com/weblog/comments/book-review-the-retreat-by-david-bergen/

Border Songs by Jim Lynch: Love Jim Lynch, author of The Highest Tide. Quirky fiction.
https://www.somisguided.com/weblog/comments/book-review-border-songs-by-jim-lynch/

Little Bee by Chris Cleave: Reminded me of Andrea Levy’s Small Island. Illuminating fiction about the immigrant experience in the UK.
https://www.somisguided.com/weblog/comments/book-review-little-bee-by-chris-cleave/

Bedtime Story by Robert J. Wiersema: A story within a story about a boy and a magical book.
https://www.somisguided.com/weblog/comments/book-review-bedtime-story-by-robert-j.-wiersema/

MY TOP KIDS READ

The Dread Crew by Kate Inglis: Rollicking pirates invade a small town. Great word play.
https://www.somisguided.com/weblog/comments/book-review-the-dread-crew-by-kate-inglis/

MY TOP NON-FICTION READS

The Shallows by Nicholas Carr: So good I couldn’t harness my thoughts into a coherent review.
https://www.somisguided.com/weblog/comments/book-review-the-shallows-by-nicholas-carr

The Big Short by Michael Lewis: Sub-prime mortgage crisis as page-turning thriller.
https://www.somisguided.com/weblog/comments/book-review-the-big-short-by-michael-lewis/

Madame de Stael by Francine du Plessix Gray: Literary geekery.
https://www.somisguided.com/weblog/comments/book-review-madame-de-stael-by-francine-de-plessix-gray/

Two Generals by Scott Chantler: Beautifully illustrated, graphic memoir of two generals in WWII.
https://www.somisguided.com/weblog/comments/book-review-two-generals-by-scott-chantler/

I should always review a book right after I finish it. In the case of Robert J. Wiersema’s Bedtime Story, I wrapped it up in late November on a late, late night of reading. I couldn’t put down Bedtime Story and I recall closing the book and saying “wow.”

Now, why was it so awesome? I should have taken notes, but I didn’t so all we have is my faulty memory and an email I wrote to Rob after finishing the book. Let’s piece it together.

Structurally, there are 3 stories going on. I found this a bit weird at first. The first chapter introduces one boy and his family, the next chapter introduces another boy and his family, then a couple chapters later boy 2 starts reading a novel about another boy. What happened to the first boy? Good question–and one that is ultimately part of the mystery unfolding. Am I’m making it sound more confusing than it is?

Boy 2 is David, who is reading about Boy 3, who is named Davfd.

Boy 2 and 3 are essentially the same boy, living in different times. The book David is reading is a trap, a magical trap for little boys. David, like the boy before him, has a seizure that pulls him into the storybook, leaving his body functional in the real world but without spirit.

As I read Bedtime Story, I wondered about the mastery of storytelling and a storyteller’s ability to pull you into the narrative. I starting thinking about the length of Davfd’s sections and how frequently they occurred in the narrative. I noticed that before David’s seizure, I was really pulled into Davfd’s section of the novel. It seemed like there was a period of greater attention on that story. Like David, I was sucked into the story of Davfd. But then after David’s seizure, I felt more in David’s father’s world as he tried to sort out the cause of David’s seizures.

Robert’s latest novel is like the confluence of two rivers. The storylines run together in the most fascinating way. I still remember it as “wow.”

Thankfully Pickle Me This finished the book around the same time I did and wrote an excellent review.

Bedtime Story by Robert J. Wiersema
Published by Random House

(Robert J Wiersema’s is also the author of Before I Wake.)

I’ve never read a Mary Higgins Clark book, and according to the jacket copy she’s the author of 29 suspense novels, 3 collections of short stories, a historical novel, a children’s book and a memoir, plus coauthor with Carol Higgins Clark of 5 holiday suspense novels. Prolific. Was I missing out?

My preference is quirky fiction by new authors and a handful of books by authors who I can’t pass up, but I’m always willing to try something new. So when Mary arrived in the mail as a suggestion from the folks at Simon and Schuster, I thought I’d give it a try.

At 82, Olivia Morrow is terminally ill and debating whether she will leave the world with or without sharing the secret that her cousin, the soon to be beatified nun, had a son out of wedlock. That son’s daughter stands as the rightful heir to what remains of a great fortune.

Not really the kind of plot that interests me, but I was pleased by the immediate suspense established and I can understand why Mary Higgins Clark’s books are bestsellers. They’re certainly page-turners!

I liked the plot twists and turns, was surprised by the number of characters added late in the novel, pleased by the neatly wrapped ending and a bit appalled at the number of people who end of dead in the story. It was what I expected–easy read, good suspense, more action than character development and formulaic (but without disappointment).

If you’re looking for a good candy read, this one goes well with ginger snaps and a hot toddy.

The Shadow of Your Smile by Mary Higgins Clark
Published by Simon and Schuster

When Salman Rushdie published Haroun and the Sea of Stories, I wondered what it would be like to have Salman Rushdie as my father. And I wondered again with Luka and the Fire of Life. I suppose it would be like having a ringleader or parade master as a parent (like the Pied Piper but the nice fairy tale version, not the one where the kids die).

(Random House has a channel with a number of Rushdie interviews and book trailers.)

If you’re too pressed to watch the trailer, know this … at the age of 12 Luka’s brother Haroun crossed the border into the magical world, and such is the case this year for 12-year-old Luka. The adventure begins one fateful day in the land of Alifbay, when Luka curses a circus master and causes mass revolt by the animals. A bear named Dog and a dog named Bear (who dance and sing) become Luka’s loyal companions. And it’s a lucky thing too because shortly after Luka’s father Rashid, the legendary storyteller of Kahani, falls ill and only Luka can save him by entering the magical world and stealing the fire of life. It’s super handy to have a magical dancing bear and singing dog.

Parents (like children) can often be very demanding.

Luka’s exceedingly treacherous task is recorded as a series of video game levels with lives earned and lost. And, it doesn’t feel like a forced metaphor. Rushdie neatly brings this element to the story in a mad-hatter kind of way that really works.

I love quirky, magical books and Luka and the Fire of Life is no exception. Delightful, magical, and, as expected, well written.

Luka and the Fire of Life by Salman Rushdie
published by Knopf Canada

Fans of The Time Traveler’s Wife will not be disappointed by Audrey Niffenegger’s latest novel Her Fearful Symmetry.

Julia and Valentine Poole are 20-year-old sisters who are mirror twins. They are identical but also mirror images of each other. Valentina’s organs are even in the wrong spots. The twins are the daughter of a twin and the story opens with them inheriting the aunt’s apartment in London.

The English aunt, Elspeth, has very specific instructions. The girls must live in the flat for 1 year before selling it and under no circumstances is their mother Edwina to enter the apartment.

The flat borders the vast Highgate Cemetery, where Robert, Elspeth’s lover works. He also happens to live in the flat below theirs.

To say the least, without giving things away, this is a modern-day ghost story with twins. Smart, eerie and a nice page turner.

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
Published by Vintage Canada
Read an Excerpt

One of the best books I read this year is The Retreat by David Bergen. Bergen hails from Winnipeg and The Retreat is set close to there in an area that I know well, Lake of the Woods.

It’s 1974, during the summer of the Ojibway occupation of Anicinabe Park in Kenora, Ontario. Raymond is a native boy who falls in love with a white girl whose uncle is in the police force. The family is not keen on their relationship and manage to drive them apart (quite literally). Raymond later meets Lizzy Byrd, who is holidaying at Lake of the Woods at “The Retreat”, a commune run by a woo-woo guru named Dr. Amos. Lizzy’s mother is a fan of Dr. Amos. Lizzy’s father is not, but in an effort to satisfy his wife, he’s brought the family here for the summer.

The summer is a long period of time.

With a cast of characters at the Retreat, as well as the locals, Bergen’s weaves a multilayered story. Kids get lost and almost drown. Family’s break up, and come back together. Regardless of the storyline, each character is complete. Bergen’s characters aren’t two dimensional, even if they only have supporting roles.

The Retreat is a beautifully written novel. Each word finely crafts the story. I really, really enjoyed this book and think Bergen is as gifted as the critics claim (nominee 2008 – Scotiabank Giller Prize, winner 2009 – McNally Robinson Book of the Year, winner 2009 – Margaret Laurence Award for Fiction).
Read an excerpt.

The Retreat by David Bergen
Published by McClelland & Stewart

Scott Chantler is an acclaimed graphic novelist who lives in Waterloo. And he draws in a style that I totally love for graphic novels. Apparently I’m not the only one who loves his stuff, Chantler’s books have been nominated for the Eisner, Harvey, Russ Manning, Joe Shuster, and Doug Wright Awards, and I don’t see why he didn’t win.

Two Generals is a graphic novel set during the Second World War. I think this is his ninth book, although there are only 5 books to buy in his store. Regardless of what number this book is, it’s worth buying.

The thing I love about Seth’s work is the packaging. There’s something about a graphic novel that deserves artistic attention. And I was really pleased to see the incredible package and designed for Chantler’s book (designed by Jennifer Lum at McClelland & Stewart).

In March 1943, Scott’s grandfather, Law Chantler, left Canada for active service with the Highland Light Infantry in England. Also on board was his best friend and fellow officer, Jack. After grueling training and weeks of boredom and anxiousness to get going, they were crossing the English Channel for the Allied invasion of Normandy. If you know your military history, you’ll know that this operation was fraught with difficulties.

The novel is a story of friendship and the absurdities of war rather than a straight account of events. And I enjoyed the subtleties of the illustrations, the side winks, the knowing glances and the quiet gestures that tell the emotional story of the lives of these two men.

Scott has also launched a research blog for Two Generals where you can view early sketches and also the photos and images that he used to inform this story and illustrations. I recommend having a look!

Two Generals by Scott Chantler
Published by McClelland & Stewart