Suzanne Collins - Hunger Games, Catching Fire & Mockingjay

Well, I've read them. It took me only 4 or 5 days and I have to admit right up front, I loved them. So much fun. Just googled them to make sure I had Collins name right and her website describes them as... Gladiator” meets “Project Runway” in Suzanne Collins's gripping dystopian novel “The Hunger Games." Ha. Funny but somewhat pretty spot on. If you haven't succumbed to what I imagine is a teen-sensation, do it. It's fun. It's addicting and it's the kind of read that just takes you away. M. turned me on to them and I thank her for it, so much fun Seus!

White Noise, Don Delillo

Mom picked me up at JFK on Friday. Had been about a month since I'd seen her and we were rapidly catching up on everything we could because we only had about 14 hours together this visit. I mentioned that I read White Noise while I was down in the BVI's, and asked if Mom had read it. She has read it. She read it while she was in the hospital, between Meg and I. Don Delillo weaves a hysterical, theatrical tale that truly made me laugh out loud repeatedly. This was the same for Mom, and she associates White Noise with anger towards my Dad - for giving her such a funny book, that caused her excruciating pain each time she laughed.

I originally sought out White Noise because it is one of the books on Jonathan Franzen's favourite books that I posted early. Was thinking of making this my summer reading list... but I have already started to stray from that. There are just so many good reads out there. Too many to chose from.

The Help, Kathryn Stockett

Called the 'other-side' of Gone With the Wind, this was a great summer read. Took me a long time to get into it (I think I was past the 150 page mark when I finally felt like I had a stake in the story), but once I got to that point - I could hardly put it down. It is a story of courage, conviction, compassion and cruelty. I know the movie version is in production now, and I am glad for that. It was a good read, but a great story that I think will make a very good movie.

Read this on H. & L.'s recommendation while we were sailing down in the British Virgin Islands. I got through most of it during the long, hot nights on the boat after the very quick sunsets (no twilight down there!) It was a great trip, very beautiful and fun to learn about sailing.

I really want to re-read Gone With The Wind now. I read it while on a Bio-Ethics trip down in Florida and remember being totally enthralled. The Help motivated me to start doing a bit of reading about American History. Especially about the civil rights movement, but also just about American history in general. There are very large gaps in what I know. Am also hoping to find some other Southern stories - they always get me. All in all, suggest reading The Help before it comes out in theatres.

Body of Evidence, Patricia Cornwell

After The Corrections, a serious mid-west downer, I needed a light read. So, I picked up a light, fluffy, somewhat morbid crime-thriller. Best part of this read was the similarity in the title to Dad's last show. Otherwise, was glad to finally read one of L.'s favourite authors. Not sure if I'll continue on with the series, but it was a fun one!

Catching Up: Campaigning in Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke.

It's been a while since I updated, but I've been busy! For the month of April I volunteered with Christine Tabbert's campaign in the rural, and incredibly beautiful, district of Renfrew-Nipssing-Pembroke. I learned a ton. It was a fabulous experience, even though we didn't get the outcome we were hoping for... I am scared to see what the next 4 years are going to look like for Canada. That is besides the point, however. While I was up in Pembroke, I managed to get through a couple of reads...

The Appeal, John Grisham
Borrowed this one from Nana, and like she said it was a light and kind of fun read. Was a good one to be reading while my brain was working at full capacity 18 hours a day on the campaign.

In A Strange Room, Damon Galgut
Unlike The Appeal, in A Strange Room is not a light read. I picked it up at the Strand as a last minute impulse grab - the cover got me. Simply said, I loved it. Easily one of my favourite reads. I actually can't wait to read it again. His writing is beautiful. Stunning. I lent it to A., in the hopes that she would enjoy it as much as I did (we often don't agree on books)... and am still awaiting her review.

The Corrections, Jonathan Franzen
Didn't like The Corrections as much as Freedom, but still really enjoyed it. Franzen is a masterful weaver of massively depressing tales.

The English Patient, Michael Ondaatje

I will always associate Michael Ondaatje with L. and the fundraiser she worked on in the summer of 2004(?) with Ondaatje. I remember picking up The English Patient that summer, getting 50 or so pages into it, and then putting it down. It just wasn't doing it for me. I've kept it on my bookshelf ever since then, hoping that one day I will feel the motivation to pick it up, and low and behold, a couple of days ago I did.

I made it all the way through this time, and while I didn't love it, it was a still a good read. The best part about it was, honestly, was that I felt like I could relate to a lot of the setting and the characters. It is set in the hills above Tuscany, (where I have visited a few times), the main character is from Toronto and has spent much time canoeing in Georgian Bay, there is a kindhearted Sikh from Punjab who describes the Golden Temple in Amritsar just the way I remember it, and last but not least, the main love interest is named Katharine. Kathath- A -rine, just like me.

Since starting to work at a bakery here in town, I have to get used to waking up early. Like seriously early. Like being at work by 6am early. That means that although I had yesterday and today off, I still woke up at 7:15am. Oh well, the light here is beautiful in the morning. Ventured into the city yesterday to meet up with M. and snapped a couple shots, like the one above. Beautiful and sunny, but very chilly. Please oh please, let spring come soon!

Rebbecca, Daphne du Maurier

Last week we went to see the new Jane Eyre in theatres. I totally enjoyed it because I had no idea what the story line of Jane Eyre was, and it is definitely a great story. When we walked out of the theatre M. told me that I 'had to read Rebecca.' She's said something along the lines of - it's like Jane Eyre, but better. And so it was! I was totally hooked from the very beginning, and read it basically in 3 sittings... the longest one being from 11:00pm - 2:30am after a very delicious but sugary and caffeine loaded chocolate brownie tart. I was hoping for a good romance, and M. said I was going to be disappointed if that's what I was looking for, but I do think it is a fabulous romance. The parallels to Jane Eyre are easy enough to see, and really add another layer to Rebecca. I'm glad I saw Jane Eyre so that I could see what du Maurier was pulling on. I have to read Jane Eyre now, and just picked up a copy at Borders yesterday.

Just want to quickly say that this is one of the best suspense novels I have ever read. I was literally on the edge of my (bed), turning the pages as rapidly as I could so that I could get to the end. And let me just say, that it is not a satisfying ending! I've been thinking about Rebecca since I finished it early yesterday morning and I can easily say it is one of my favourite books I've read in the last year, if not one of my favourite books ever. I think I will give it a re-read after I've read Jane Eyre.

Great suggestion M.