That Just Happened!

Well, after recieving fortification in the way of a quick visit and Starbucks drop, I have continued on with my quest to read for 24 hours (or so).  I have finished another book, which was great because it is a Governor General Winner and I can now cross it off my list.  So, as it is about half way in the Read-A-Thon and there is still a ways to go, I am going to post a mini-review for this book.

Bowering, George.  “Burning Water” 2007 (Won in 1980) New Star Books Ltd.

…Burning Water tells a straightforward, linear narrative, but it does so
from within the trappings of postmodernist fiction. The novel often breaks into
authorial asides, abandoning a scene in progress in favour of a sort of
third-person author’s journal. Many of Bowering’s characters are deliberately
unrealistic and function as historical puppets. They speak a dialect that is
half-antiquated and half-modern. Only Vancouver and Menzies gain any real
individuality, and their belligerent personalities chafe against the confines of
their duties to history as the Great Explorer and the Great Naturalist, leading,
eventually, to a murder. It’s not a murder that matches the historical record,
however, and readers who are uncomfortable with this type of storytelling would
do well to avoid Burning Water. However, those who are comfortable with
the self-doubting tactics of postmodern historical writing will find much to
enjoy here. –Jack Illingworth

Amazon.ca

As far as books about discovering Canada go, I have definitely read better ones.  I found this one a little hard to follow at first because there are a few paragraphs peppered through the novel that are actually about the person writing a novel about the main character.  In fact, ”Burning Water” is the novel the mysterious author is writing and we read it…oh heck, it sounds confusing just trying to explain it.  Plus we are more than a few hours in to the Read-A-Thon and I think it’s time for a fluffy book.

Either way, it seemed like there was a lot that wasn’t said, merely implied, and it was up to the Reader to figure out what it was and how it fits into the story.  There were also a few pages at the beginning of some of the chapters which had the Native’s perspective, but they sounded very British in their speech and I couldn’t really piece in the relevance to the story about British explorer George Vancouver.  All in all this wasn’t bad, but compared to others I have read it was a little lacking.  I am giving this book

Well, it is off to start the next book and perhaps do a little mini challenge.  I would also like this time to say thankyouthankyouthankyou  to the wonderful cheerleaders who are helping everyone to stay motivated.

That Just Happened!

www.thatjusthappened.ca.  Now there’s an address I haven’t typed into
my internet address bar in a while.  I have effectively had 8 months of the worst writer’s block   laziness ever.  So why now?  Where did the inspiration come from to start writing again?  Well, a few places.

One, I have ideas again. Ideas about what to write, that is. I think most of my friends will attest to the fact I usually get ideas.  Dastardly, evil, revengeful, brilliant ideas, especially after a cocktail or two.

Two, my days and nights are reversed just like how it was ages 0-12 months.  My natural clock took over and all-nighters are occurring once again. Only this time they are less fun because I am; a) doing it alone and b) I have not had one or two of the aforementioned cocktails.  I have met a few women who are in the same boat as me, but they are menopausal, so they weren’t too interested in my circadian rythyms.  How can I compete with hot flashes and night sweats, anyway?  I just have dark circles and an internet search history that reads: “Girls Next Door Bridget Dogatonic Video” and “circadian rhythms”.

Three, my dear friend over at The Pond, Blond Duck, has written an awesome book that I said I would review for her.  I thought it would be weird to just throw out a review after months of silence, so take this as an introductory post and a promise that I will be reviewing one fantastic, whimsical book.  Her Halloween series  was a scary story that was actually scary.  It is supposed to be for young adults, but I got chills and it wasn’t because the a/c  is positioned to blow down my neck when I am at the computer, because it was cold outside when I read it and the a/c wouldn’t have been on.  So there.

Four, I have a stack of books that I have read and am hoping will reach the ceiling by the end of the year.  I have to review a lot of them for the Governor General Awards challenge that I made for myself.

Five, who else can I tell about my lusty thoughts about Paul Gross and I why I think he is everything that is sexy and Canadian and male?

Six, my hormones are a swingin’ lately and with the return of the cycstic acne on my chin came enough angst that I feel I have something interesting to write about.

Seven, MPW (my partner Will) is saying stupid things again.  Like, “Who are The Judds?  You mean it’s not just Ashley?”

Eight, someone left me a comment on my “about me” page that just said, “You can go F**K yourself” and I just want to say, “Well…F**k you too, random person who is probably spam. F**k you too.”

Nine, I am getting tired of entering into blog giveaways and not attaching a blog address to my name because I haven’t done anything new since January.  In addition, I am sure Blond Duck would like a new post to leave a comment on.

Ten, Stephtastic is in Derby and I go see her games, KB (my brother-in-law) is doing improv which I go see, MPW is going to start skiing before I know it and I’ll be left all alone and I’m craving some attention, gosh darn it.  What about meeeee?  Notice meeeee!

Well, there ya have it. I’m back.  I’m committing.  I really just want to talk about Paul Gross.

That Just Happened!

Davies, Robertson.  The Manticore.  Penguin Canada (2005).  (Originally won in 1972).

Around a mysterious death is woven a glittering, fantastical, cunningly contrived trilogy of novels. Luring the reader down labyrinthine tunnels of myth, history and magic, THE DEPTFORD TRILOGY provides an exhilarating antidote to a world from where ‘the fear and dread and splendour of wonder have been banished’.

Chapters.Indigo.ca

This was the second book in the trilogy.  I have read the first “Fifth Business” in high school, so I didn’t really remember too much of what happened.  This book follows the character David to Switzerland where he meets with a Jungian psychologist in an attempt to work through the death of his father (which he originally thought was murder and is told in the first book).  “The Manticore” is the sessions between David and his therapist as he explores the role his family played in his life.  It was pretty fascinating from a psychological perspective.  You never really get to see the therapeutic process when someone else goes through it and certainly not so condensed.  It was like he had taken all the high/critical points in therapy and fast-forwarded to the end.  The last part of the book does leave it open for a sequal, but you could read this book on its own.

I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in psychology/psychology practices, self-discovery through therapy, or who has read “Fifth Business”.