A Novel Approach bookclub was formed in 2005. Presently we have 10 members and one member joins our discussion during June and September. We do not meet in July or August, nor in December.
Books that we have read. (Rating Scale 1 (lowest) to 10(highest) - rounded up)
You Remind Me of Me by Dan Chaon. A book about life, a hard life actually, judgements made that cause grief throughout one's life, lots of characters and at times difficult to keep track of everyone's lives. Not an uplifting book but it did gain about a 7.5 from the group.
A Fig Eater by Jody Shields. Setting Vienna about the turn of the century; murder mystery utilizing the latest in forensic tools; also gypsy folklore played a hugh part in solving the case; some found the title did not fit the end result of who the murderer was. Learned alot about the food popular in Vienna and much of gypsy spells and legends. Many characters, and again, this was a problem for the group - found it difficult to keep up with all the storyplots. Some found the subject matter difficult to deal with. Scored about a 7.
The Mountain and The Valley by Ernest Buckler. A very descriptive book about rural live in a small Annapolis Valley community; not uplifting, indeed meloncholy at times, but it is considered a classic Canadian novel.
Rated a 7.5
The Space In Between by Thrity Umrigar. Novel's setting is India and is a story of one very poor women who works for a fairly wealthy women - their lives, their children, their culture and all the problems that arise - not really an uplifting book as it deals with sexual abuse; other forms of abuse, aids, the poor, the cultural differences because of caste system, so many social issues. But it is life. Excellent characterizations and excellent writing. The book scored an 8.2.
All Passion Spent by Vita-Sackville West. Wonderful book, strongly recommended. Scored a low of 8 to 10...highest scoring book for a long time. The members watched the BBC three-part Series of the Book and it was absolutely super. Characterizations are fabulous.
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Elicited lots of conversation. Scored highs of 7.5 to 9 and a low of 4. A very busy novel, with many characters and stories all interweaving here and there, so you had to have your wits about you to keep everything straight in your head. To many, the ending appeared somewhat contrived. The author had so many stories that she appeared to rush to tie everything up nice and tidy in the end. Still a good story and the author has an amazing use of the English language.
Just One Look by Harlan Corban. Members gave it about a 7.5. Book starts off well, captures your attention, but there are so many characters, so many stories that towards the end, it is abit mind boggling and if anything, the 'crest of the story' peaks too soon, with the author busily tying up loose ends at the end, so very noticeably. However, members were glad to have a lighter book to read for a change.
The Birth House by Ami McKay. The story is set in Hall's Harbour, Kings County, Nova Scotia in the early 1900's, actually just about the time of the Halifax Explosion. Hall's Harbour is an actual place as its land borders the Bay of Fundy. You can find Hall's Harbour by travelling over the north mountain from Wolfville, Kings County, Nova Scotia to the "Bay". It was not uncommon in those days for women's children to be born at home...particularly in what was then fairly remote areas so easy access to doctors was not possible nor was there money to pay for such services. A very good read. The rating was about a 7.5. As a side note, some readers felt portions of the storytelling seemed somewhat contrived.
Fugitive Pieces by Ann Michaels. The novel, has as its lead-in to the story, WWII, Poland, Jewish prosecution, Sicily and the affects of war on a child as he moves forward in his life, eventually settling in Canada - and all the implications and experiences of this sort have on the survivors and the people connected to them during their lives. We had the most wonderful opportunity to hear Mr. Philip Reitman, a Holocaust survivor who was speaking at a near-by high school. It was so moving and his experiences as a survivor of the concentration camps added so much more to our appreciation and understanding of the Novel. The book rated an overal 7.2, and mainly because though the first part of the book flowed nicely, the second part of the book became somewhat confusing. But still, a beautiful and memorable storyline.
The Confessions of Max Tivioli by Andrew Sean Greer. It scored lower then most books, coming in at a 6.5 or so. One member had difficulty with the book. Though she had no problem with the subject matter, she did not like the 'style of writing' and therefore scored the book a five. Many of the members had difficulty with the main character, just did not like Max as a person. As for the writing, excellent and the unusual subject approach was given praise. Though not a favourite read for sure, members did say that though this was not the most loved book, it is a book they will never forget.
Cry, My Beloved Country by Allan Patton. An extraordinary read set in South Africa during the time of apartheid... a telling of a story of economic and political segeration of the native people. A fictional story (but oh so true), so wonderfully written. A must read. The majority of members rated it very high, from an 8 to a 10.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho was well received by the group present for the discussion. Book rated between an 8 to a 9.5. A story full of symbolism, signs, dreams and adventure. It is about following your dream. For what you wish for may at times seem impossible but everything is possible if you really want it to happen. A book of optimism and wisdom.
The Samurai's Garden - Gail Tsukiyama. An absolutely wonderful read and it received a very high rating, from an 8 to a 10. Recommend all her books, try Women of the Silk and its follow-up.
Camilla Gibb's Sweetness of the Belly is the author's third book. Winner of the Trillium Book Award, Giller Prize Finalist, Globe & Mail Top 100 Book of 2005, national bestseller, and was one of Amazon.ca's "Best Books of 2005". The story takes place in Ethiopia and ends in England and is based around Lilly - the daughter of hippies who was orphaned at 8 and left in the care of a Sufi sheik who schooled her in the ways of the Qur'an. Lots of discussion on this book. Rating 7.4
The Girls by Lori Lansens - a fictional story about conjoined twins Ruby and Rose....a story of their life, told by both, but from their own individual perspective. The story telling which goes back and forth between the girls is easily distinguished by the use of different fonts, one for Ruby when she is telling aspects of her life and another font for Rose, as she recounts aspects of her life. The story is more or less an autobiograpy of the lives of these two sisters. Due to their conjoined position together, neither one has ever been able to directly look into each other's eyes, but only indirectly by the use of mirrors. Rating - 7.5
The Last Crossing - Guy Vanderhaeghe - rated it an 8. Set in the second half of the century, takes you on a journery from England, through parts of Canadian and American west. It was one of our earliest reads.
The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold - 8
Honeymoon in Purdah: An Iranian Journery - Alison Wearing - 6.5
A Recipe for Bees - Gail Anderson Dargatz - 8
The Way The Crow Flies - Ann Marie MacDonald - 7/8 rating
A Natural Curiosity - P. D. James - 4 or less (author has much better books out, Death in Holy Orders for one)
The Garrick Years - Margaret Drabble - 4 or less (try The Seven Sisters, excellent book)
Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown - 8 (well what can you say about this book, just about everyone in bookclubs has read this one)
The Farm - Andie Rierden - 8 (author present for this discussion) ( a look inside a women's prison in the States and follows the life of several inmates when they are released)
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightime - Mark Haddon -8/9 (strange title but you must read the book to understand - set in England)
Poetry Selections - individual choices - big hit!
Burden of Desire - Robert MacNeil - 7/8 (set in Halifax during the Halifax Explosion)
The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini - 9 (most people have read this - excellent and learned a lot about the sport of kite flying in Afghanistan - let alone learning much about its people, culture and the landscape in general)
Easter Island - Jennifer Vanderbes - 7/8 (gives you a wonderful glimpse into this remote Island of South America - the story is about two women from two different eras but interwoven due to their pick of men in life and their interest in the history of the land and its people
Two Solitudes - Hugh MacLellan - 7/8 (addresses the English/French situation at its onset - well written - certainly gives you an insight into the power of church and state)
Five Quarters of the Orange - Joan Harris - 8
(excellent writer, set in France during WW11)
The Cure for Death by Lightning - Gail Anderson Dargatz (not everyone read this as the member who had chosen this had left the club due to other commitments - so no rating)
Rockbound - Frank Parker Day - 9 (set off Lunenburg Co., Nova Scotia - about a young man who sets out to make his living fishing on a small island off the coast of N.S. - setting was around 1920 or thereabouts)
No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency -Alexander McCall Smith - 8 (fun read and gave you an understanding of the people and its culture in Africa - and strong women)
The Color of Water - James McBride - 7/8 (wonderful read, about a Jewish women, her Black Baptist Minister husband and her many children growing up in the slums of Brooklyn (it is James' take on his growing up in this family - a true story)
Lambs of God - Marlee Day - 9 (most unusual book and received wide acceptance - be hard pressed to find a book quite like this one - setting is a derelict monastery with three old nuns inside, much to the surprise of a priest who has gone to look the place over as a perspective building development - the plot then unfolds)
The Linnet Bird - Linda Holeman - 8 (good summer read and gave the reader quite an insight into England and India in the late 1790's and early 1800's - the scene starts in England, then India and back again to England)
Two additional books have been added to the 2007/2008 reads as we have two more members: The Stone Carvers and A Memoir (forget the name at the moment) written by Jimmy Carter (read it and it is terrific). Both these books will be reviewed on this site). Probably meeting for one book end of August and the other in September.
Our list of books for 2008
May - Bel Canto by Ann Plachette
June - Glass House
July - The Sixth Lamentation - William Broderick (this book is actually a read from 2007/2008 but did not have time to review it; will possibly sometime in the summer; will get a good rating I believe
