The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G. Wells

This novel is about a man who, by a series of incidences, is brought to an island where Dr. Moreau resides and is experimenting on animals. It is an interesting metaphor for the role that science plays in ethics and the act of 'playing god'. This question, of the importance of ethics, is even more relative to science in the present day. Written in the 1800's it is also a look at social classism and slavery. It is questioning humanism and power systems.

Rating: Donate It.

We Are All Treaty People by Roger Epp

This novel is an excellent look at the rural prairies of Western Canada. Insightful and eloquent, Epp brings a sense of nostalgia to anyone who has grown up in a small prairie town. He gives an important and interesting perspective on the rich histories and current social and political issues of the prairies. Whether it's through farming, economy, settlers, the Mennonites, or Aboriginal Peoples, "We Are All Treaty People" is an informative look at these diverse and complex communities. He perfectly encapsulates the truth and beauty of this country, what it means to be from these areas (positive and negative) and how these experiences distinguish us from people who only know life in an urban landscape.

Rating: Slow Clap It.

Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain by Oliver Sacks

I had trouble with "Musicophilia" on two levels, which surprised me because I was really excited to read this novel. While I found the text to be quite boring and repetitive in parts, I also succumbed to a crisis with music hypochondria. As someone who already fears the loss of hearing, I found it unnecessary for that fear to be amplified through the knowledge of all of the ways that I could also lose my sense of music, both physically and neurologically. To be fair I was only able to get just over half way done before I had to put it down and move onto something else; it is plausible that other's would disagree with me on this rating and really enjoy what Sacks has to say on this subject.

Rating: Burn It.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

This is a fascinating novel about a young black woman who's cells changed the world. Her cells were the first that were able to live and grow outside of the body and redefined science to what we know today. HeLa cells have been used to create the polio vaccine; they have been tested on, put into space, used for gene mapping, helped scientists understand cloning, used for cancer research and of course many many other applications. HeLa is bought and sold around the world and can be found in almost every lab today. This novel is both a history of the progress of science and the very real and scary history of the medical field as well as the history of the woman herself and of her family coming to terms with the questions and misunderstandings that came from the discovery and use of her incredible cells.

Rating: Slow Clap It.

Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman

This little novel is quite poetic and beautiful at times. It looks at the ways that time can be manipulated and gives the reader insight into the idea of time, how time flows and it's effect on us and our environment. I would suggest taking your time and reading this one really slowly as it gets a bit monotonous after awhile.

Rating: Donate It.

Green Grass Running Water by Thomas King

This novel should be read with a bit of background context in mind and probably at least twice. It's quite complex but also rewarding by the end, especially if you've done your homework. It's about the complexity of the characters in the novel and in the real world. It also approaches the idea of storytelling and the perspectives of why that story is told and through what lens. To find a balance between two cultures, histories and stories, King plays with the idea of mashing stories and themes together; the characters tell the stories, starting over and retelling them in different ways, trying to get the story just right. I found a lot of the characters to be quite charming and interesting.

Rating: Donate It.

On The Farm by Stevie Cameron

I had been waiting for this book to come out as I had just finished Cameron's previous novel about Pickton and the missing women of the downtown east side. Because of the publication ban during the trial she had been unable to give the details of the case in 'The Pickton File'. That novel showcases more of a personal look in collecting research for the book, talking to the families, and her experiences in writing it.

Now that the publication ban has been lifted, the new novel, 'On The Farm', is a much more straight forward look at exactly what happened to these girls, the police investigation and the trial proceedings. It sheds a lot of light on this famous case. Warning that it is graphic as she writes about exactly what happened to these girls and what the police found and collected for evidence. It's a horror but very interesting, especially when getting an inside look at our justice system and the investigation process leading up to laying charges.

Rating: Slow Clap It.

The Passage by Justin Cronin

This novel is The Stand meets 28 Days Later with a little dash of Thunderdome. But with vampires. It's a good escape novel and with many interesting characters and settings you won't put it down. There are a few moments where you can feel your heart racing, maybe find yourself glancing over your shoulder...you know, all that good stuff...for a few days anyways.

Rating: Donate It.

The Lesser Blessed by Richard Van Camp

For being short, this novel has a lot to say. Larry is a high school kid from Fort Simmer and this story chronicles his journey into self discovery and healing. It is filled with stories he uses to grow and understand the world around him. In the process Richard Van Camp is doing the same for us as readers. Astounding.

Rating: Slow Clap It.

Missing Sarah by Maggie de Vries

Maggie de Vries reflects on and tries to understand the story of her sister Sarah and her path to living in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. This story chronicles how a woman from a safe and loving home, albeit a broken one, transitions into a life of prostitution and drug abuse. It is a very good look into the lives these people struggle with and how so many factors come into play when deciding many of these people's fate. From government laws and restrictions to the evolution of the drug trade, it is an insightful look at how complicated and fragile this system is. It shows how the move of prostitution from inside brothels and hotel rooms to cars and streets, from residential and business areas to the isolation of industrial areas, and the economics of the drug trade forcing competitive prices in prostitution plays a role in the safety and control these women have over their own lives. A very informative and humane look into a misunderstood world that most people would prefer to turn a blind eye to.

Rating: Slow Clap It.

Monkey Beach by Eden Robinson

This is a story filled with mystery, magic and heartbreak. It tells of a family living on Vancouver Island in the small Haisla community of Kitamaat and takes place just as the family's son goes missing. It is told by his sister, Lisa, and is filled with memories of her youth and her route towards self discovery and maturity. It reflects on the dynamic of a family and the influences they have on each other. A wonderfully written, moving, funny and thought provoking novel.

Rating: Slow Clap It.

Porcupines and China Dolls by Robert Arthur Alexie

This is the story of an aboriginal community suffering from the effects of abuse from the residential school system. It is a good look at how suffering from this type of abuse affects not only yourself, but how the people in your life and your community suffer too. It is about how abuse is dealt with on a personal level and manifests itself in many different ways. This novel is a good look at how people flounder with the shame, hate and fear that comes from abuse. As a reader, you feel for these characters and want to see them succeed in overcoming these tremendous obstacles and find the strength, bravery and pride that will lead them to healing.

Rating: Slow Clap It.

The Pickton File by Stevie Cameron

Stevie Cameron wrote this book in the years up to Pickton's trial. It chronicles her research into the case, the missing women and Pickton himself. It is very well written and provides a lot of insight into the trial proceedings and investigation of one of Canada's most infamous serial killers. It also gives an honest and real look into the lives of the women living in the downtown east side and the support groups, individuals and cops who did all they could for the victims and their families. I look forward to reading the next book by Stevie Cameron about this case. It will add an even more comprehensive look at what happened during the trial now that the publication ban has been lifted.

Rating: Slow Clap It.

Urban Tribes by Ethan Watters

This is a look at the culture of the 20 & 30 somethings of our generation; how friendship circles are built and what role they provide in a person's life, why are people marrying later and later and putting off having children: if marrying or having children at all, are we isolated from a sense of community?, have we become too independent and selfish? These are the questions that Ethan Watters is working through in this book. It started out interestingly enough but quickly slowed and by the time I was nearing the middle I had lost all interest. I started flipping pages and skimming for anything that caught my eye but ended up putting it down for good to start on something new without finishing it. It didn't capture my attention the same way that 'Crazy Like Us' had done.

Rating: Burn It.

Crazy Like Us: The Globalization of the American Psyche by Ethan Watters

This is an interesting look at culture and mental illness; how a culture reflects and shapes a mental illness experience. It looks into how one culture can dominate, define and shape an illness in another cultural society. Whether it's anorexia in Hong Kong, PTSD in Sri Lanka, schizophrenia in Zanzibar or depression in Japan, this book will make you think about the world we live in.

"...I have tried to avoid making the cliched argument that other, more traditional cultures necessarily have it right when it comes to treating mental illness. All cultures struggle with these intractable diseases with varying degrees of compassion and cruelty, equanimity and fear. My point is not that they necessarily have it right-only that they have it different." Ethan Watters

Rating: Slow Clap It.

1 Dead in Attic by Chris Rose

Chris Rose is a journalist living in New Orleans before and after Hurricane Katrina. This book comprises his articles written after the storm in The Times-Picayune. It was a horrible time and you can see the effect it had on him in his writing. This book becomes a bit redundant but is filled with little moments, sentences and stories that will touch you and give insight into what was going on there. I was inspired by the heart and strength of the people who lived and live through this reality still.

Rating: Donate It.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

This book turned out to be quite different than what I expected...it wasn't the sexual nature of the novel that surprised me but for some reason I thought it was going to be a fantasy/sci-fi. Instead it turned out to be a murder mystery taking place in Sweden in the now. The girl with the dragon tattoo is a PI and ends up working for a journalist who has been hired by a billionaire tycoon to solve a murder from 40 years ago. It was a good read. I finished it this morning and it has stuck with me all day. Although I thought the end was a little drawn out I find myself wanting more to go back to.

Rating: Donate It.

The Road Not Taken by Louis Untermeyer

Again, not so much into the poetry but I keep trying! I thought this book would be helpful in having the commentary to go along with the poems to tell me why it matters and what makes these poems a classic part of literary history. I found I only enjoyed a few and ended up skimming through the rest of the book.
Rating: Burn It.

5 days into my trip I ran out of books. Fortunately we were in Missoula Montana for a day and I stopped into a local independant bookstore and picked up a few more...


The Plague of Doves by Louise Erdrich

This book was a good read with a lot of characters and stories that wind and come together for a satisfying ending. I liked it but did get a bit confused in the middle on who was who and what person belonged to what story. I did manage to get it together though... Make mental notes!
Rating: Donate It.


Shit My Dad Says by Justin Halpern

Very funny but also quite tender as well. The dad is bluntly honest and doesn't express himself in the most eloquent way at times but this book has a beautiful father son relationship that you can't help but enjoy.
Rating: Donate It.


Pretty-Shield by Frank B. Linderman

Memories told by a Crow woman who grew up in the States. It begins with her memories of living with her people and following the bison herds as a way of life. It's a interesting glimpse into different time and a different history.
Rating: Donate It.


Letters From Yellowstone byt Diane Smith

I thought this started out a bit slow but was surprised by how much I fell in love with this book by the end. A book about science, discovery and adventure.
Rating: Donate It.


Beautiful In The Mouth by Keetje Kuipers

I don't usually get poetry and this is one of those times. I didn't find anything new to learn from this author and bored quite quickly with her collection of poems. I will give her the benefit of the doubt that I might not be the best audience for judgement.
Rating: Burn It.

I was recently on a 2 week vacation and brought these with me for some rest and relaxation...

The Truth About Stories by Thomas King

I think this book has a very interesting perspective and is successful in infusing humor and honesty on complicated aboriginal issues.

Rating: Donate It.

Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen

A coming of age story taking place against the backdrop of the intriguing world of the circus in the early 20th century. Great to pass on to your friends.

Rating: Donate It.

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

Of course everyone knows of these novels. I chose to bring this one because I wanted a nice easy read. It did the trick and in all honesty I couldn't put it down but unfortunately I found a lot of things to complain about. My biggest complaint was how the author decided to portray the conflict between Bella & Edward in the first half of this novel. I worry that the obsessive & controlling behavior that Edward has towards Bella is condoned by the author and sends the wrong message that it's ok for someone to behave in this way if they do it in the name of "love". No thanks.

Rating: Donate It.

I wanted to start off with a few books from my library at home that I picked as some of my favorites. Check them out!

Evolution by Carl Zimmer, 28 stories of AIDS in africa by Stephanie Nolen, Old Souls by Tom Shroder, a long way gone by Ishmael Beah, Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden, Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, Jan Wong's China by Jan Wong, Ishmael by Daniel Quinn, Tom Thomson by David Silcox (Tom Thomson is a favorite artist of mine), Battle Royal by Koushun Takami, The Odyssey & The Iliad by Homer, At Work by Annie Leibovitz, Fall On Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald, Dream of the Walled City by Lisa Huang Fleischman, Our Inner Ape by Frans De Waal, Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, Papillon by Henri Charriere, Nobody Nowhere by Donna Williams, Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood, Veronika Decides to Die by Paulo Coelho, The Missing Persons League by Frank Bonham, When you are engulfed in flames by David Sedaris, Zigzag - A life on the move by James Houston, The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, The Human, The Orchid, and The Octopus by Jacques Cousteau, The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein, Touched by Fire by Elliott Leyton, The Way The Crow Flies by Ann-Marie MacDonald, ten poems to set you free by Roger Housden, ten poems to change your life by Roger Housden, The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill, The Cuban Way by Ana Julia Jatar-Hausmann, The Giver by Lois Lowry, Tracks by Robyn Davidson