This is an insightful and introspective book, typical of Bergen’s novels. The first part of the book is a perfect recounting of growing up in rural Alberta. Arthur describes his influences: isolation, books and school, religion, sibling rivalry, and conversations that leave much more unsaid than stated explicitly. The latter part of the book is a coming-of-age story in Paris. Just an excellent read.
Author: AJ
The Bride Stripped Bare by Her Bachelors, Even by Chris F. Westbury
Two men with OCD talk endlessly about art, first discussing a sculpture of Abraham and Isaac/Ishmael. But most of the book is about a road trip to Philadelphia to see the Marcel Duchamp art piece (the title of the book). Thus there is much discussion of Duchamp and his art. This book is a total hoot.
An Untamed State – Roxane Gay
A very tough story about the kidnapping of a young woman (wife/mother) in Haiti and the horrifying aftermath of 13 days in captivity, and her ongoing trauma (classic PTSD) after her release.
The Language Of Flowers – Vanessa Diffenbaugh
This is a brilliant book, one of my best reads in the past 6 months. On one level is is a heart-breaking story of the consequences of growing up in foster care without love and affection, leading to feelings of being unworthy of love and affection (officially, attachment disorder). But this is also a story of redemption through flowers, especially by learning the language of flowers to enhance communication and the understanding of the complexity of relationships. For example, yellow roses means either jealousy or infidelity. The main character, Victoria, is a compelling, angry, destructive and often frustrating character who struggles to forgive and be forgiven. Amazing writing but keep a tissue box nearby!
The Rosie Effect – Graeme Simsion
This is the sequel to The Rosie Project. Don and Rosie are now living in NY. Rosie is pregnant and so Don’s already complicated life becomes even more complex. This book describes a common plot line, when an essentially good person makes a mistake and then covers up, resulting in much confusion.
Note from Amy. David reviewed the Rosie Project earlier in the year.
The Love Story of Miss Queenie Hennessy – Rachel Joyce
This is the companion books to The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, and is even better. A wistful love story about the power of unrequited love. This is a magnificent, albeit sad, read.
The Ever After Of Ashwin Rao – Padma Viswanathan
A Giller finalist and another WordFest author. This is a sweeping story from the early 1980s in India to the 1985 Air India bombing, and the aftermath leading to the trial in 2004. A search for coping mechanisms for grief produces a very strong story with distinctive characters, both in India but mainly in Canada.
For Today I Am A Boy by Kim Fu
An intriguing first book by a writer I encountered at WordFest, Kim Fu. The story is about 4 siblings in a Chinese-Canadian family, 3 sisters and Peter with emerging trans-gender issues. Beautifully written about a complex issue.
A Sunday At The Pool At Kigali by Gil Courtemanche
Full disclosure – this is a disturbing book and not for the faint-hearted. The book details the events in early 1994 in Rwanda: the AIDS epidemic and mainly the Hutu-led genocide against the Tutsis. Amidst much death and brutal violence is a love story, the tender relationship between a Canadian journalist and a Rwandan woman who is Hutu but looks like a Tutsi. Issues of identity are crucial in the genocidal purge of “cockroaches”, the term the Hutu use to describe Tutsis to justify their extermination. Indifference from the UN and Western powers is described in detail, along with rampant corruption. This is a powerful book: how can love exist in this Rwandan hell?
What David Read 