thiscanadianwantstoreadnicer

March 31st, 2016 by Jan

For the last few years, I’ve made it a point to read the top 5 books that compete for the honour of Canada Reads.

And yet… I have to say with the exception of When the Birds Rained Down (which did not win, but was in last years final), I have been sorely disappointed in the choices put forward.

This year I am really disappointed. I’ve read (or tried to read) four of the five books so far. I put my name on the library hold lists as soon as the titles were announced and have been called for all but one so far.

Perhaps the theme of “redemption” should have warned me at the start. Still, I do not want to read another “gripping story of a tragic life.”

The book I long to read is the story of a young First Nations child that did NOT get raped at age 11. I want to get lost into the life of the educated immigrant, who wasn’t abused by the system. Bring on the story of the old man who loves his wife, is a good father and productive member of society . I’m in dire need of a happily ever after story, one that also has a happy beginning and comfortable middle as well.

I am longing for a story of the extra ordinary, because to tell the truth — the abuse, the rapes, the hate… they are the all too common themes in books, movies, and  in life as well.

These stories are making me weary. I suppose I’ve read enough that I am desensitized, and bored by them. Mostly I’m really sick and tired of it.

Each day, I look out the window and I realize how lovely we have it here on the coast. I know how lucky I am, and how good my life is,  I do not need to escape my life through literature. Yet, I hunger for a good read. I love a great book, not fluff, but certainly not the unrest of man’s inhumanity to man either.

Is it just me or are we really okay, especially with the Canada Reads books, that are full of cruelty and heart break on the page. The hurdles of events that one has to jump just to be safe, or redeemed, are too much for me these days.

I am open to suggestions and until they come in, I find my world is getting smaller and smaller with my ability to watch, listen to, or read about today’s world.

Maybe it is time I tried to read some Sci-fi or dare I say it… a romance novel!

6 thoughts on “thiscanadianwantstoreadnicer

  1. Kath

    Don’t know if they’re to your taste but a couple of true books written about life in BC are, “The Bears and I” by Robert Franklin Leslie and, “Grass Beyond the Mountains” by Rich Hobson. I really enjoyed both. Look them up if you have time. No big love, sex, violence. Good stories. I’ve read The Bears and I a number of times and like it every time. I’ve never forgotten the Rich Hobson book. I loaned it to someone and never got it back.
    One of my all time favourite books is, “Mrs. Mike”. It’s not necessarily factual but based on facts. I’ve probably read it 20 times by now.
    Good luck!

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  2. Sheila

    BOY do I agree with you on this one. Same for TV. The creepier the story, the more you react, does NOT mean it is good. It just means you might remember it cuz it freaked you out. Studies have shown……

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  3. LauraB

    Don’t know if you’re up for it or not, but I find “history of scientific discovery” books are often fascinating. I recently finished “The emperor of all maladies: a biography of cancer” by Siddhartha Mukerjee. I did enjoy it, though cancer sucks. It weaves personal stories with the history of the discoveries about cancer, written by an oncologist in what I found to be an engaging manner.
    Or try “The lives of a cell” by Lewis Thomas. There are some very poetic scientists out there!
    Another writer I enjoyed was Loren Eisely’s “The immense Journey”: lots of natural connections and intuitive understanding.
    If you’re at all interested in Canadian political humour, I heartily recommend Terry Fallis “The Best Laid Plans”.

    Good luck and happy reading!

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  4. Michael

    My favorite light hearted book is “Bridge of Birds” by Barry Hughart. It just makes me so happy (but there are a couple of mean people in it, but they lose. Probably better to not read the sequels). I also love “Another fine Myth” by Robert Asprin. “The Night Circus” by Erin Morgenstern is kind of sweet and weird. I’m kind of a sucker for a love story, and the latter recommendation qualifies in a subtle, deep and satisfying way. I loved the book (and movie) “The Princess Bride”.

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