See here for our staff review of this compelling story of a little boy and his mother who are held captive for years in an 11 X 11 room, the only world this child has ever known.
This book will stick with you, so if you would like to come out and chat about it with other readers, why not sign up for our BYOB (Bring Your Own Book) Club? This discussion of Room will be held on February 23rd, 2012. For more details, please phone 905-639-3611 Ext. 1320.
Memory is a key player in this compelling book. The narrator begins to look back on the events of 40 years after receiving an astonishing inheritance. His memories of his friendships at school and with the women in his life were not always as they appeared on the surface. Shades of meaning, misinterpreted remarks and small gestures were seen by others in a whole different light.This short novella can be read in one sitting, but I was so intrigued by what I had read that I went back and read it two more times – something I have never done before. Each time it shed more light on the missing fragments of the narrator’s memory that altered with the passage of time to turn long-held truths upside down.
If you're on the holds list and want to check out Barnes's earlier shortlisted works, BPL has the following:
Lakeland: Journeys into the Soul of Canada by Allan Casey 2009
Within Canada's borders are found 60% of the world's lakes, but until Lakeland, few books had been written about them. Nature writer Allan Casey visits 10 lakes, to meet the people who live and work on them, and assess how the lakes have changed over time. The result of this tour is a book both passionate about what is being done to the environment and entertaining in its observations about our Canadian society. He describes how local economies have moved from fishing and lumbering to servicing cottagers and tourists. One year-round resident wonders "How there got to be so many people who can afford million dollar vacation homes to sleep in 20 nights a year." The theme that binds these visits is that our love of our lakes also endangers them. They are being destroyed by rampant over-development and our ever-increasing standard of affluence. One local is quoted saying, "Newcomers think it's beautiful here. They don't know how beautiful it used to be".
Winner of 2010 Governor General’s Award for Non-fiction
The Sentimentalists by Johanna Skibsrud 2009
The Sentimentalists portrays the relationship between a woman and her dying father. Portrayed as charming, tenderhearted, gruff, but well intentioned, Napoleon, the father, seems haunted by his experiences during the Vietnam War. The unnamed narrator describes several projects that her father begins with enthusiasm, but, unable to complete, ultimately gives them away. By giving these objects away, the daughter wonders what he might be depriving himself and his family of?
Abandoning her job and boyfriend, the narrator returns to the only place that feels stable, the home of her father's friend, Henry. And it is at Henry's place that she and her sister settle their father when he can't look after himself. Much of the book is spent there; a small town that was moved after the valley was flooded. The narrator often boats on the new lake looking for remnants of old farm buildings, wondering and exploring what defines a person's life? Is it what we remember? Is it what has happened to us? Is it the stories we tell others about ourselves? Or what our intentions were? Ultimately, after exploring Napoleon's war stories, she accepts that she loves her father unconditionally. This is a novel of thoughts and impressions.
Surprise Giller Award winner for 2010
The Whale: in search of the giants of the sea by Philip Hoare 2010
Philip Hoare hasn’t just researched whales, he has swum beside them; such is his interest and deep respect for whales. This book is a cultural history of the whale which includes the whaling industry, accounts of Melville, and stories of whales from sea to sea. He includes the fine examples of scrimshaw, the terrible fights of giant squids and whales, how whale fat was turned into candle wax in 1748 in Nantucket, and Henry Benston’s account of whales; he referred to them not as animals, but as nations. Philip Hoare is the winner of the prestigious BBC Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-fiction.
Come Thou Tortoise by Jessica Grant 2009
Fast-paced, easy to read, and a little quirky, Jessica Grant’s Come, Thou Tortoise employs wonderfully witty wordplay while taking advantage of a uniquely Canadian setting. Where else would you find references to the political significance of orange, an appreciation of the value of Canadian Tire money and a lack of surprise at the operations of Air Canada? As Audrey (aptly nicknamed “Oddly”) Flowers returns to St. John’s to deal with a family tragedy, she tries to solve one mystery but winds up discovering another. Her pet tortoise, Winifred, also lends her voice and perspective to provide insight into the events that have shaped Audrey’s journey home.
A Place Within: Rediscovering India by M.G. Vassanji 2008
You can expect that when an author is a two time winner of the Giller Prize for fiction, you would have a reasonable expectation that the non-fiction work is of equal quality. A Place Within: Rediscovering India, is a personal journey into the history and culture of India, and it does not disappoint. In his previous works of fiction, Vassanji explored what it was like to be grow up in one country and yet be woven into the fabric of another. In this book, he uncovers a complex history of family narratives, history and stories such as the relationship between Muslims, Jews and Hindus. In November, 2009 Vassanji was presented with the Governor General’s Award in the non-fiction category.
Olive Kitteridge
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout 2008
Maybe every New England town has an Olive Kitteridge – a woman who works in the community, has a family, knows all about the neighbours (yet they do not know about her) and feels that she must keep up appearances. Henry, Olive’s stoic yet humane husband, is beloved by all, and is the constant source of irritation to Olive. Olive is the one person whose presence unites each of the 13 narratives, and as each of the townspeople grapple with their problems, a lesson is learned and insights gained into the human condition.
Elizabeth Strout is a seasoned writer winning such awards as the Orange Prize – England and more recently the Pulitzer Prize for this novel.
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan C. Bradley 2009
It is hard to believe that this debut mystery author and winner of the British Crime Writers’ Association Debut Dagger Award so convincingly evokes the British manners and setting of the 1950s when the author , a Canadian, admits that he had "not set foot in England until 2007"!
More surprisingly, most of the sleuth work is done by one Flavia de Luce – a precocious eleven year old girl who has as much passion for chemistry as she does disdain for her two older sisters' tiresome preoccupations with all things feminine. That the author and his protagonist make use of their local library to do their research makes this cozy mystery all the easier to recommend! We cannot wait for the sequel!
The Bishop's Man by Linden MacIntyre
Linden MacIntyre, writer and broadcast journalist on The Fifth Estate, was the recipient of the 2009 Scotiabank Giller Prize for fiction, awarded on November 10th. The Bishop's Man tells the story of Father Duncan MacAskill and tackles the difficult subject of abuse within the Catholic church. It explores how these cover-ups taint the church and the lives of those involved, including Father Duncan.
You may also be interested in novels by the other finalists:
The Disappeared by Kim Echlin
The Golden Mean by Annabel Lyon
Fall by Colin McAdam
The Winter Vault by Anne Michaels
The winner of this the 2009 Man Booker prize is a work of historical fiction by Hilary Mantel called Wolf Hall. This novel is set in the time of Henry VIII and it gives a glimpse of the political clime of the 1520s as well as some insight into historical figures such as Henry VIII and Sir Thomas Cromwell.
The holds list is already growing here at BPL, so you may want to add your name soon!
Wolf Hall
Alternatively you might want to try one of the other novels shortlisted for the prize this year, including The Quickening Maze by Adam Foulds which Vincent Lam mentioned he was currently reading at his talk last week!
The Quickening Maze by Adam Foulds
Summertime by J M Coetzee
The Children's Book by A S Byatt
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters
Burlington Public Library CEO Maureen Barry, Councillors Rick Craven and Carol D'Amelio, Burlington Mayor Cam Jackson and Library Board Member Kerry Langford were present for the unveiling of the OBOB 2009 selection at City Hall on May 27th.
This year's selection is Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures by Vincent Lam, a collection of short stories about the lives of medical students and new doctors. Although it is a short story collection, there are threads that weave these stories together. I read this fascinating book a couple of years ago and found it unlike anything I had read before. With the current media interest in medical issues, this is a timely work of fiction for Burlington's largest book club and should generate some interesting discussions! We hope you will join us in reading Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures this summer and perhaps we will see some of you at our OBOB programs this fall.
The Cellist of Sarajevo by Stephen Galloway 2008
A chilling read of the heartache of civil war and how it tears a city, Sarajevo, apart. Actual historical events related to the Siege of Sarajevo 1992-1996 are woven into this work of fiction by B.C. author Stephen Galloway. He writes about a cellist from the Sarajevo Symphony who, upon witnessing the mortar attack through his window that killed 22 residents queuing for bread during the height of the siege, vows to play Albinoni’s Adagio on his cello on the same spot that the killings occurred for 22 days - one day for each of the residents who were killed. Other characters such as Arrow, a female sniper charged to guard the cellist, Kenan, who has to dodge snipers to get water for his family, and Dragen, who works just to get a free meal, also contribute to this moving, harrowing description of war. Long-listed for the 2008 Giller Prize.
Mercy Among the Children
David Adams Richards
A Giller Prize winner and a Canada Reads 2009 title! Richards’ tightly-written novel is set in a rural, improvised community in New Brunswick‘s Miramichi Valley. It pulsates with everything from arson, murder and rape to alcoholism, avarice, adultery and abuse. Oddly enough, Richards might stun you into reserving judgment and even into feeling compassion or a glimmer of understanding for the basest of his characters. When pre-teen Sydney Henderson, no stranger to violence and abuse, pushes Connie off a roof, he vows never to hurt anyone if Connie survives. He holds firm to his life-long vow of non-violence. Escalating false charges, including manslaughter, make no dent to his Buddha-like compassion and non-reactive gentleness. An unforgiving community shuns the Hendersons. His raging son, Lyle explores a starkly opposed path of personal power, fear and violence in defense of his family. He must now bear the burden of his choices. A challenging but brilliant must-read!
The Best Laid Plans by Terry Fallis
Winner of the 2008 Stephen Leacock Award for Humour
Daniel Addison wants to quit Canadian politics for good and become a professor at the University of Ottawa but before he can Daniel must find a candidate and run a campaign for the Liberals in a PC stronghold territory. He finds an unlikely and reluctant alliance with Angus McLintock, a Scottish professor of engineering at the University. This enjoyable story follows Angus’ run for the riding of Cumberland-Prescott to his adventures on Parliament Hill. With hints of serious undertones about politics and democracy, this is an endearing novel, with very likeable characters in believable political situations. This is a must read if you like satirical novels or Canadian politics.
Joseph Boyden has won the 2008 Giller Prize for his novel Through Black Spruce. This is a follow-up to his award winning novel Three Day Road. Boyden is a gifted storyteller who writes about a vanishing way of life of the Cree in Moosonee, Ontario.
The story is told by two members of the same Cree family: Will Bird, who lies comatose in a hospital after a nasty confrontation with a violent criminal family and his niece, Annie, who leaves the community to search for her sister, Suzanne, who also may have met with foul play by the same criminal group. Will, was a bush pilot, whose painful past of loss is revealed to us in flashbacks. His niece, Annie's story unfolds at his bedside as she recounts deep secrets to his comatose form in an effort to get him to respond and come back to health and wholeness.
The traditional way of life invloving hunting and trapping and the harsh realities of comtemporary life, where alcoholism and crime threaten the lives of the native community form the backdrop of a very compelling and powerful novel.
Check back Saturday for another great pick!
Winner of the 2008 Man Booker Prize for Fiction!
Aravind Adiga's razor-sharp debut novel The White Tiger is a dazzling narrative set in modern India. The story, as told through the eyes of Balram, is sarcastic, witty and hilarious as he exposes the underbelly of India's servant class and the corruption that haunts everyday activities among the ruling classes.
Balram, is the White Tiger, who has risen from the slums to the position of chauffeur to a rich landlord. The tale unfolds as he pens seven letters to the Chinese Prime Minister before his forthcoming visit to India on a state visit. He writes of his humble beginnings as a poor boy with no education and no hopes in the 21st century India . He exposes the dark side of the new India to the Chinese Prime Minister and chronicles his meteoric rise to become an entrepeneur by means of cunning , guile and the murder of the man who was his boss. Balram is a survivor whose acute observations of the social order offer valuable insights into the India of today.
The White Tiger has been named the winner of the prestigious Man Booker Award. Adiga is a writer of great talent with a remarkable and persuasive voice.
Dream Wheels by Richard Wagamese is a book with a strong, supportive, multigenerational family. Joe Willie Wolfchild needs just 8 seconds atop the meanest bull on the rodeo circuit to be crowned the World Champion Rodeo Rider. But Joe Willie is thrown. His right leg is broken and his shoulder joint is practically destroyed. So close to his heart’s desire, but at 25 his career is over. He is taken to his grandparent’s rodeo stock ranch. Joe Willy is sullen, angry and silent as his family wait for him to heal, physically and spiritually. He accepts their challenge of trying to repair the family's old, Ford V8. Claire, a black, single mother and her troubled teen-age son, Aiden, come to the Wolfchild ranch. Aiden and Joe Willie begin as antagonists, but learn to work together.
This is a novel of strong characters, picturesque settings and, native philosophy. spirituality and beliefs.
Burlington author Lawrence Hill blends historical detail with the powerful tale of a young African girl kidnapped in the mid 1700’s and sold into slavery in the United States, in The Book of Negroes. Compelling descriptions of the horrors of the journey to the coast, the dreadful conditions of the sea voyage and the hopelessness of slavery provide the background for the life story of Animata Diallo. Now an old woman nearing the end of her life, she has been brought to London to work with the abolitionists and chronicle the story of her life. From West Africa to South Carolina and New York City where she is hired to enter the names of all Negroes fleeing with the British to Nova Scotia for the promise of land and freedom, Animata perseveres in her quest for freedom, independence and meaning. The title’s Book of Negroes is a real historical document and sample excerpts inside the book covers offer a poignant insight into the drama of Animata’s fictional tale. Beautifully written, often difficult to read and consistently moving, this is a story that will stay with you long after you’ve put it down.
Read any good books lately, let me know!
In Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures, Ontario emergency room physician , Vincent Lam traces the careers of several young doctors. Beginning with the "grind" of med school, we see their first encounters with cadavers, and then the problems they face in various emergency situations. We also see how what happens in the ER affects the young doctor’s lives outside the hospital. These stories offer an understanding of the ways in which young doctors cope – or not! For fans of medical fiction – or ER! This collection of short stories won the Giller Prize.
Have you read or are you reading this book. Let me know what you thought about the book! Read any other good books lately, I would love to hear from you!
