I’ve been dying to have an in-depth conversation with my blog (hur) about books. Particularly the ones I’ve read and really liked. It’s different from a review because I don’t necessarily want to talk about the books closely. Just that, you know, give you, my dear Readers, a glimpse of what has currently made it onto my to-read list and what books I think you really should give a try.
My majors seminar deals with “the haunting of Canadian history” and for once, we have been assigned really good novels. Well, so far the ones I’ve read have been really good. Not books I’d necessarily read out of my own choice but now that I have read them, I’m glad to have done so.
Both these novels are just so immensely beautiful. Three Day Road is a war story while Shoot talks about the Mclean Gang who were Canada’s own outlaws. They have been buried in history but their story is one the world should know. The youngest Mclean brother was 15 years old when he was hanged. I did my presentation on Shoot so I’ve become quite familiar with the Mclean gang. Heh.
And they are both so beautifully written. To convince you, I have an excerpt from Three Day Road.
“We even die in threes. I have watched countless times how a soldier dies. He is a man before the bullet strikes, but when he is hit and the pain crashes into his body and he realizes he only has moments left on this earth, he becomes a desperate animal. Finally, inescapably, he becomes a corpse.” -:-Joseph Boyden-:-
Anyway, that’s my school reading. Can Lit has some gems that does not often get discovered by yours truly because high lit (term used to distinguish between popular lit and literature that has some “literary” substance and that, ladies and gentlemen, is a whole different can of worms that I have no desire to open up right now) is not something I seek out. I like my reading light and fun. This is not to imply that I don’t like my fun reading well written, I certainly do. I just don’t want to engage in themes that are too heavy for my poor heart. I have a tendency to get really involved in whatever I’m reading and if I’m reading depressing stuff, I go around being depressed. It’s not particularly fun when your reading experience bleeds over into your real life. You know?
Next, I want to talk about my love for certain Australian authors. The author of The Poison Throne, Celine Kiernan, told me that the reason Australian authors seem to shine so brightly is because their publishers/editors allow them to have their “own” voice and shape their own stories the way they want to. Whatever they are doing works for me because honestly, I’ve read quite a few Australian authors and almost all of them worked very well for me. Here are some books I particularly enjoyed:
These were all very amazing in the way of amazing stuff. I’ve noticed a certain cleanliness in the way of the narrative voice and tone in Australian authors. They seem to be unafraid of going wherever their muse tells them to – something that is very lacking in North American authors. At least the ones I have read. Even the books that I have liked have had a glimmer of uniformity, a semblance to other books in the genre. In my Restoration theater class, we learned that during that period (as pertains to literature and not really history), being original was looked down upon. What was more creative was telling a story that had been told once and telling it in such a way that made it seem new and novel. I was thinking that we may be seeing the second coming of the Restoration era, at least in North American books because honestly, there are only so many stories you can tell. It’s how you tell the story, how you go about the journey that matters more than the destination you reach in the end. As long as that end does not come with a cliff hanger, of course. Ahem. And finally, three books that recently made it on my to-read list and why I want to read them.
The cover. I’m being honest here! Plus it’s described as The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo for teens. I’m not really sure about that since I still have to read the latter but hey, it looks cool.
A retelling of the frog prince. I love fairy tale retellings so I’m totally in for this one. And finally,
Cinderella as an automaton. How much awesomer can it get? Heh. That’s it for now. What’s new on your reading list?
oh, lookie! a bookish discussion on a book blog! how nice :P (i’m sorry about the lameness of my attempt-at-sarcasm. please bear with me.)
anyway: man, AUSSIE PUBLISHERS FTW! i love how they give their authors total control of their voices. that’s just so unspeakably awesome. i can’t claim that every aussie book i’ve read has blown me away–well, only two haven’t, but still. i should mention that I finished reading Saving Fransesca and HOLY MOLY I AM A TOTAL MELINA MARCHETTA FANGIRL. was just a matter of time, really :D (also, i am sooo very eager to read some jaclyn moriarty. she sounds like an author i would love.)
I don’t see the need for sarcasm. :P But yeah, Moriarty is super awesome. The things she comes up with are just so… creative. Effervescent.
I love Aussie books, too. They’re just so pure (a weird word choice, but I don’t know how else to describe it). No copying other books, no trying to fit in, and it’s all SO EFFING COOL. I’d go live in Australia today if I could xD
Canadian history? I thought I’d be TOTALLY bored in last year’s Socials class, but dude, the way some teachers can make something as dry as good old Canada sound all fantastic and interesting was what saved me from hating Canadian history :)
I don’t know, dude. Can Lit is pretty depressing stuff. The Can Lit course I took made me nearly want to claw my eyes out. We do have some gems but they are often buried deep. Try Three Day Road and Shoot if you want something that is intensely Canadian. I don’t know if it’s recreational reading though. Haha.