Canada – Page 12 – What David Read

The Cure For Death By Lightning by Gail Anderson-Dargatz

The Cure For Death By Lightning by Gail Anderson-Dargatz This is a remarkable book, told in the voice of 14 year-old Beth who is growing up in rural B.C. in the early 1940s. There is exceptional detail in the writing, ranging from the recipes and remedies in her mother’s scrapbook to farming details like milking cows and separating the milk. There is also a very strong magical/mystical element. But be warned, there is some very unpleasant detail, described in a completely understated manner. So, highly recommended but with a warning.

Note: this book is from the CBC list: 100 novels that make you proud to be a Canadian, a superb reading list.

Kicking The Sky by Anthony De Sa

Kicking The Sky by Anthony De Sa Evocative story telling about the late 70s in Little Portugal, Toronto. De Sa captures the rapid (<1 year) and heart breaking transition in the life of a 12-year-old, from blissful innocence (well, not quite complete innocence because these are young boys), from simple adolescence to the knowledge that the world is a tough and gritty place with sinister characters. The nature of the time with rampant homophobia is described vividly. Thanks Steph, for this recommendation. De Sa’s previous book, Barnacle Love, has some back story but is not as good as Kicking The Sky.

Ellen In Pieces by Caroline Adderson.

This is a poignant, funny and sometimes sad story of Ellen, a 48 year old living in Vancouver. The story is mostly about the complex relationships between Ellen and her two daughters, her ex-husband, friends, etc. Excellent description of living on the West Coast. Adderson was at WordFest last Fall and so is a new find (for me) for Canadian authors.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20764874-ellen-in-pieces

The Age by Nancy Lee

The Age - Nancy Lee.jpeg First novel by a creative writing professor at UBC (her first book was the acclaimed collection of short stories = Dead Girls). The setting of this novel is 1984 Vancouver, a perfect portrayal of protests and terrorism, with a concurrent post-apocalyptic fantasy. Lee describes adolescent recklessness perfectly.

Leaving Tomorrow – David Bergen

Leaving Tomorrow - David Bergen 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.

The Ever After Of Ashwin Rao – Padma Viswanathan

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.

A Good Death – Gil Courtemanche

A Good Death - Gil Courtemanche A Good Death – Gil Courtemanche (perhaps best known for A Sunday At The Pool In Kigali). This is a very well-written story of a dysfunctional large family in Montreal. The patriarch has always been a mean—spirited nasty individual who now has had a stroke with the onset of Parkinson’s. Some members of his family speculate that everyone would be better off if he died. The question of how his death might be facilitated becomes an important theme. His eldest son states that “you can only kill individuals that you love or hate. In this case, the son has never loved his irascible father but can’t hate him because of his illness. This dilemma is resolved in an interesting ending.

Holding Still For As Long As Possible by Zoe Whittall

9780887843013 Another book from the CBC list; also Whittall was at a Walrus Talks panel discussion at Blue Metropolis. This is a relationship book about 20-somethings that is not preoccupied by drugs. Notably, there is a central trans-gender character, and this characteristic is treated without emphasis, just as it should be.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6606825-holding-still-for-as-long-as-possible?from_search=true

Certainty by Madeleine Thien

474662 This is a great book, really two love stories spanning two generations set in North Borneo (WWII, now Malaysia), Vancouver and The Netherlands. It is a compelling story of secrets and sorrows of the past, and grief and loss (a phrase: “ routine .. to keep their thoughts contained”). This may be the only time I have recommended two books by the same author in a single month.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/474662.Certainty?from_search=true