Books and English Literature

What have you read lately? Here are some of Sarah's favourites: A Student of Weather by Elizabeth Hay Monkey Beach by Eden Robinson Dropped Threads: What We Aren't Told edited by Carol Shields and Marjorie Anderson And Christmas Day on Easter Island by Carlotta Hacker Hanna's Diary by Hanna Spencer The Rez Sisters by Tomson Highway The Great Code by Northrop Frye The Colony of Unrequited Dreams by Wayne Johnston Songs of Innocence and Experience by William Blake

Here are some suggestions from members of Sarah's Cyber Circle: The Last Report of the Miracles at Little No Horse by Louise Erdrich "Mom, would you like to have an audio version of Louise Erdrich's The Last Report of the Miracles at Little No Horse? (or of the newer Erdrich novel - just came out Spring 2003 - whose title escapes me)? Because, of course, there's Mother's Day, and your wedding anniversary coming up!" "I just finished The Last Report... and I thought it was wonderful, even though the first 100 pages or so are a bit jolting - it's worth sticking with it." -- recommended by Gretchen Green A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry Also, I have loved Rohinton Mistry's A Fine Balance about India in the last 50 years - it's breathtaking, but a marathon. -- recommended by Gretchen Green The Colony of Unrequited Dreams by Wayne Johnston "I am currently reading The Colony of Unrequited Dreams and very much enjoying it. Being a Newfoundlander it makes me homesick!" -- recommended by Cheryl Inkpen The Ashes of my Dreams by Ed Smith "Ed Smith is also from Newfoundland and in his late 50's was in a car accident that left him a quadriplegic. It is not a downer as you might expect and is filled with life and humour, although of course great sadness as well. As someone involved in the Canadian medical scene I found his experiences very interesting.....at times you become infuriated on his behalf, at other times you just have to laugh along with him...... i.e. when he goes to get a transportation pass for himself and his wheelchair and the government clerk brightly asks this quadriplegic man '.......and how many stairs can you walk up unassisted?' Anyway, I think you would find it very interesting - both Bob and I did." -- recommended by Cheryl Inkpen Clara Callan by Richard B. Wright "I recently read Clara Callan and enjoyed the story and the epistolary style, particularly the use of both letters and journal entries. However I had some real question about Clara, her relationship to her community, some of her behaviour and her life subsequent to the 5 years of the letters and journal as described in the epilogue. I mightily wished to be back in Ontario and ask people familiar with small town life in that period from the 30s through the 60s whether they thought that Clara rang true. Is there anyone who has read it who has thoughts she/he would care to share with a west coaster?" -- recommended by Karen Burch Re: Clara Callan. I have not read this book yet, but I did hear quite a bit of it read on Radio One. I wondered, too, about her behaviour, primarily in continuing the relationship with Frank (have I got the name right?). Surely there must have been other prospects. It was puzzling to me that if she were reallly turned off by his sexual interests, it would be reasonable to expect her to be a tiny bit repulsed by the rest of him! Calling a resident of any small town anywhere for his/her reaction. Oy! Now I really WILL have to read this book to see if my reaction was in line or not. By the way, I am taking The Corrections by Johnathan Franzen with me to Maine next week. Has anyone read IT?? A friend here began to read it but quit because she couldn't stand the characters. And she's NOT a quitter!! It seems I love a challenge! -- reaction from Sarah Molto Agitato - The Mayhem Behind the Music at the Metropolitan Opera by Johanna Fiedler "Ah, the artistic temperment!! One does appreciate it follows from a pursuit of excellence. Acclaim does seem to get in the way of some!" -- recommended by Mary Partington

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