Sunday, June 6, 2010

Book 37 (2010) Through Black Spruce **** by Joseph Boyden

It's hard not to gush about this book, it is so good.   I will steal words from others---fluent, powerful, lyrical, and assured.   This is a story of natives living on reserves, in the city, and in the wilderness, experiencing the degradation and success.   It is so well told that you never think 'what an imgination' you just believe it (compare People of the Book, which I was conscious of the writer's imagination).  The story is told in first person of two characters, a middle aged retired bush pilot and his niece.   I never thought oh this is a man writing in a woman's voice.

You cannot find a flaw or weakness in any sentence, phrase, word, or paragraph of this book.   I wish someone would read it aloud to me.

Boyden won the 2008 Giller Prize for this book.

Other books by this author reviewed on this blog:
The Orenda *****

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Book 23 and 24 Girl with the Dragon Tattoo* and Girl with ... by Steig Larsson

June 1st - Week 21 just finished. Five weeks of travel went by in a flash and I am still reflecting on all that we saw and did.   Here's what I read on the road and in the following days.

Book 1 was better than I expected action thriller with lots of character development and conflict.  A touch too much of the unbelievable violence and computer magic.  Book 2 was even better than book 1.