This is the story of Hattie, called to help out her niece, age 11, and nephew, age 15, when their mother suffers yet another mental breakdown, she takes the kids on a mad mad world road trip to search for their father. They cross into the US in an old van --- and Toews finds new material for a familiar plot in this dysfunctional family tale.
The writing is outstanding, possibly her best in a stunning collection. The conversations between Hattie and the kids are masterful. Toews usual themes of people with seemingly insurmountable problems who stumble and struggle through life could be very frustrating, but she draws characters who are battered by life, intelligent, funny, wise, impulsive, self-destructive, creative, in emotional agony, and who learn to love and care for each other.
Other books by this author:
A Complicated Kindness **** (Governor General's Award)
Swing Low: A Life ****
The Summer of My Amazing Luck ***
This is a collection of short stories (novelettes) by the breathtaking author of Namesake. Lahiri writes about the experiences of educated professional Indian immigrants to the US and their adjustment to their new life. But this is only the backdrop to her amazing stories and insight into the human mind and heart. Every sentence is unexpected, interesting, and smoothly woven into the narrative.
Other great Indian writers and books:
Anita Badami Rau (Tamarind Mem, Hero's Walk)
Bharati Mukherjee (Desirable Daughters)
Aravind Adiga (White Tiger)
A Suitable Boy (Vikram Seth)
A Fine Balance (Rohinton Mistry)
This is Book 4 in the John Cardinal series. He's a cop in a small town (North Bay, Ontario) and a great read.
This is an intriguing adventure, very poorly written. Mainly about the writer's various adventures getting into dangerous places, interspersed with the details of his 127 trapped in a canyon. He did everything wrong to get into trouble but then saved himself by being smart and tough.
Another treasure in the Comissario Guido Brunette series. A new setting, the island of Pellestrina on the lagoon, and active involvement by Signorian Elettra.
A must for Italy lovers who want to learn the inside scoop about Italian culture and politics and read a great mystery with interesting characters.
This is a play about some Old Colony Mennonite in Ontario in the last year of WWI. Although the author is from Newfoundland and not a Mennonite, I found it all rang true, no discord. Very well written, and a clear portrayal of each character with ove and understanding. A fantastic play. I almost gave it four stars but it is not original enough.
A father and daughter story (I think) about a man broken by alcoholism and PST ecxerbated by the Viet Nam war. It takes place in the Northern Ontario and US midwest. There is also something going on about a town being flooded by the building of a dam. A very disappointing book. I skimmed the last 75 pages just to see what really happened in Viet Nam. Just some killing of civilians --- nothing to distinguish it.
The writing style made me think of the writing style. Almost the same as the narration in the old TV show The Waltons.
Too bad, a great idea.
2010 Giller Price winner.
