The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton
The bond between girl friends is unlike any other.
The Wednesday Sisters is a tale about a group of five women (Ally, Brett, Frankie, Linda and narrator Kath) whose friendship forms from multiple encounters at a local playground where their children play. They quickly discover a common bond - books - and begin to discuss novels and then critique each others writing, sometimes with harsh honesty. The friendships strengthen over time as each woman encounters crises of their own (infidelity, inability to bear children, cancer etc.). This is a light, but heart-warming read that will remind you of the importance of girlfriends - a great beach read!
Before Green Gables by Budge Wilson
A prequel of the beloved Anne of Green Gables? Yes, please! In my opinion, Wilson's portrayal of Anne as a youngster is spot on; her wit and strong-willed nature are echoed in her mother and father and are constantly tested as she faces one hardship after the other. The novel depicts the beginning of Anne, her biological family and her growing years before she is adopted by the Cuthberts. This is a most enjoyable read and a great
addition to a timeless series.
The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris
This was a strange read about a man, Tim, who suffers from an unusual compulsion, where his legs force him to walk for hours on end. He is often unaware of his physical actions until he awakes to find himself in a snow-covered ditch wearing nothing but shorts and a t-shirt. Tim, a New York attorney, struggles to meet expectations at work and to maintain his relationships with his wife and teenage daughter.
The Unnamed is both a kind of love story and an existential journey. I felt sympathy for the characters as the addiction, like a wedge, grew between Tim and his family. It was easy to think about the improbability of this condition effecting me, but had me pondering the idea of becoming a slave to biology.
As Long as the Rivers Flow by James Bartleman
Bartleman tells a story of life on a Northern Ontario Indian Reserve where families struggle to deal with the consequences of residential schooling. Sad and chilling, the novel deals with such themes as abuse and forgiveness. On the downside, I found the characters and details lacking. I wasn't able to fully connect with any of the characters and that to me, leaves me wanting more.
Little Bee by Chris Cleave
This was a loaner from a friend. It is a story of two women who find each other unexpectedly, through tragedy. Using alternating point of view (love that), the novel explores the life of a refugee in England. Cleave's ability to go between light-hearted humour and downright gut-wrenching details makes for a heart-breaking drama - highly recommended.
Sarah's Key by Tatiana De Rosnay
I enjoy novels that follow two or more protagonists who are connected in some way.
Sarah's Key follows the lives of a young girl during WWII and a middle-aged journalist in the present day. Raw and vivid is the portrayal of a young Jewish girl taken from her parents - a worthwhile read.
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
This fantastic read is told by three women living in Mississippi in the 1960s - a young woman who has just returned from college and two house maids.
The Help explores the relationships between coloured maids and their white women employers. The character development is very rich.
The Element by Ken Robinson
Upon recommendation by a friend, I took this book out from the library for Mike. It's about finding your passion and how doing so changes your life. He tells the story of how many highly successful people have achieved success. Step one: figure out what you are passionate about and are also good at... easier said than done for many. I found this to be an interesting read.
