This is a sad, frustrating, yet compassionate story. In this book, is the main villain (I was going to write "antagonist", but villain is more appropriate) is alcohol that seduces and creates monstrous behaviour sympathetic characters. Although Agnes seems to be the main character, this is Shuggie's story. He is our anti-hero. For most of … Continue reading “Shuggie Bain” a novel by Douglas Stuart
Author: Lisa Helm
The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue
“…that’s what influenza means, she said. Influenza delle stelle- the influence of the stars. Medieval Italians thought the illness proved that the havens were governing their fates, that people were quite literally star-crossed.” (pg 147). The Pull of the Stars is a novel that takes place over 3 days in a “Maternity/Fever” ward at St. … Continue reading The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue
Memory as Metaphor
Memory is a funny thing. Multi-metaphorical. It’s like a tiny alligator. Lurking in shallow water leisurely swimming by moving it’s tail. You wade tentatively in life feeling warmth and security. Going further out and away. When suddenly it grabs your ankle in it’s sharp pointy teeth reminding you it’s there. And then leaving little pointed … Continue reading Memory as Metaphor
All Things Cease to Appear by Elizabeth Brundage
Over the last year, I have been attracted to gothic mysteries and crime novels. Sometimes I google the genres I’m interested in to see what pops up on the screen. So when I typed “mystery gothic crime novels”, Elizabeth Brundage’s novel came up. What I thought would be an easy, quick, pulp fiction read turned … Continue reading All Things Cease to Appear by Elizabeth Brundage
Word Problems poem by Ian Williams
Word Problems poems by Ian Williams I was really apprehensive about responding to poetry. I don’t read a lot of poetry, I’m not sure why. I guess it’s because I don’t feel “qualified” to talk about it. That being said, one of my 2021 reading goals is to read more poetry and therefore my first … Continue reading Word Problems poem by Ian Williams
D (A Tale of Two Worlds)
by Michel Faber Apparently, this novel was written to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the death of Charles Dickens. . As such, Michel Faber wonderfully inserts little allusions to various novels written by Dickens. (ie. Beak House, Magwhich) If you’re looking for a good read-aloud for junior high D (A Tale of Two Worlds) is … Continue reading D (A Tale of Two Worlds)
Books That Teach Empathy
This week I felt compelled to compile a list of book titles that can be used to teach empathy. Before I share this list with librarians and teachers in my district I wanted to share my motivation for doing so... It is challenging being a teacher when traumatic events unfold. I taught 12th grade English … Continue reading Books That Teach Empathy
Reflecting on 2020 and setting goals for 2021
Welcome, 2021! Last week I reflected on my year of reading. The titles, the genres, the authors. Around March last year, I had to take the reality of my “COVID mindset” and my inability to focus into consideration and set a milestone much lower than I usually do at 50 books. As an English teacher … Continue reading Reflecting on 2020 and setting goals for 2021
Rabbit Foot Bill by Helen Humphreys
Truth be told I picked up this book because my mother’s side of the family comes from Saskatchewan, and years ago my mother taught in Weyburn. She had lots of teaching stories to share but I don’t ever remember her telling me about the mental hospital. Leonard’s is our protagonist. Leonard’s only friend in the … Continue reading Rabbit Foot Bill by Helen Humphreys
Purging in Purgatory
You know that place you sometimes go where you feel all itchy and unsettled inside. Like you don’t know if you should go out and run a mile or just sit down on the floor in a puddle and try to cry? You’re feeling something but you can’t quite name it? You’re not happy, you’re … Continue reading Purging in Purgatory
Shards of Bare Mute Blackness
I keep journals. Journals possessing emotional streams of consciousness. Travel journals. Journals that read as an itemization of my day. Journals with ideas and impressions from anything and everything. But I also have a journal filled with quotes. Quotes from novels. Lines from poems. Dialogue from movies. Chains of words I find especially poignant and … Continue reading Shards of Bare Mute Blackness
Corpora vs Spiritus
"The day of the corpora is the night for the spiritus. When the bodies cease their labour the spirits in man begin their work. The waking of the body is the sleep of the spirit and the spirit's sleep a waking for the body." (Paracelsus cited in Lawrence Durrell's "Justine") Well, this explains why I'm … Continue reading Corpora vs Spiritus
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
Adaline lives in 17th century France with 17th-century societal expectations- she must marry. Now Addie doesn’t want to get married. She wants to travel and learn and meet new people. She definitely doesn’t want to keep a home and have babies. So she does the only thing she can do to get out and makes … Continue reading The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
