Category: Book Reviews

Birdie by Tracey Lindberg

Rating: 4.8/5

This book was one of 5 shortlisted for the CBC Canada Reads for 2016. In my frantic ambition to read the titles before I attended the event, I purchased this title by Tracey Lindberg. It was the second book I read from the list, and even though it isn’t a lengthy book, it stalled me. For a  good 5 weeks. The first 100 pages open with a very unfamiliar narrative structure. Lindberg is writing from her native Cree traditions and incorporating a lot of that stylistically and structurally into her narrative.

The story starts off with Birdie, our protagonist, on a vision quest, and a lot of the descriptions are easily construed as confusing until about mid-way through the book. The timeline ricochets back and forth and the reader is left exhausted trying to rally her/his concept of plot progression. Still, tarry awhile dear reader, this book is a rewarding read, because once you have crossed that 100-page mark, it flows faster and with fierceness. You will find yourself hungering for the end of the book. You will glide along with Birdie and experience her agony as she gracefully narrates her harrowing journey of sexual abuse, homelessness and abandonment. Lindberg adeptly explores the concept of being lost and making a concerted effort to rally one’s strength and find oneself again. The vision quest is an excellent motif that leads the reader, and Birdie, through this journey of self-and-other discovery.

I adore this book because it gives a voice to our Indigenous relatives that is easily lost amidst a sea of other voices vying for our attention. This book is written with great attention to detail and the use of Cree words and phrases, even if the reader does not understand them thoroughly, is an enriching addition to our understanding of this rich and diverse culture. I was moved by the calm narration of often horrifying events experienced by Birdie, and several other female characters. There is no lace or fluff to this book, no attempt to dramatize events to leave readers raving and make a bestseller list somewhere. No, Lindberg is true to the modesty of her culture. She is true to the peace and kindness that emanates from her kind, and this is why this book needs to be read and celebrated. Along Birdie’s journey, you meet 3 strong women who comprise her family. These women are picked for their oddities, and like Birdie for their strength, and meshed together to create a beautiful mélange of love, compassion, kindness, courage, tenacity and above all, grace.

Should you choose to read this book, and I would recommend that you do, be prepared for the time it takes (it is a very hard read when you start), but also prepare yourself for the rewarding feeling of peace and kinship with our Indigenous female relatives you will feel when you are done.

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The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

Rating: 4.2/5

So, I’ll be honest here, had I seen this title in a stack of books, I wouldn’t have picked it out. No, I am more into realism; the kind of writing that makes you ponder deeply and consider the questions and truths inherent
in the mundane activities of our day-to-day existences. However, this book was on a reading list for a book club I had recently wanted to join, so I thought, why not try it? After all,you can’t really judge a book by it’s cover, right? 😉

This book is written from a dog’s perspective; a perspective that I found myself drawn toward. Now, I acknowledge animals as beings worthy of love, care and respect, and I am aware of the science behind a lot of them being quite clever. However, Stein has written this book with a poignant sensitivity that left me emotional. I found myself cheering for Enzo’s (the dog’s) character throughout the 336 pages. I saw the world that we humans inhabit through the eyes of a non-human who strangely enough, imbibed human-like qualities without seeming at all far-fetched or pretentious. Stein takes a beautiful story of an ambitious race car driver and his family and infuses elements of tragedy, mystery, forgiveness, compassion, tenacity, wisdom and triumph, all while staying true to his characters. Stein has obviously done his research quite well, to the point where he has seamlessly been able to allow the reader to relate to Enzo with his heightened dog-senses-and-sensibilities. The metaphors and race-car analogies have been carefully adapted to both acknowledge the reader’s ability to grasp complex information, without sounding too uppity, and at the same time, successfully educating the reader.

A must-read if you’re looking for a light book that is sure to cheer you up.

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Ma raison d’etre

This is the excerpt for your very first post.

I can’t remember when I began my romance with the printed word; it could have been as early as 2 or 3 years old. My mother is a teacher, so a lot of credit is due to her for encouraging a yearning for learning. My father, an avid reader, always made sure we made routine visits to big bookstores as children, allowing us to pick freely from stacks of well-loved titles. Over the years, and after having done one of my majors in English, I realized that books (alongside travel), offer an investment in oneself. This investment must be self-motivated, and if maintained with enough zest, can provide for a well-balanced understanding of our world.

And as a result, such is my motto:

“To read, to read, to read and not to yield.”

(with credit to Homer’s Ulysses)

 

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