Two books to report on........

Two blog entries for the price of one??? Say it isn’t so... but it is. I love to write, and in fact I love to read... almost as much as I love to eat, but THIS is a whole other topic. I have been a little busy; and while I had drafted a post for Terrorist, I hadn’t published it, and in the meantime also finished reading, Mornings in Jenin... so yes, you get one post for two books. Funny enough, while these stories are nothing alike, they similarly do deal with religion. One looks at the true faith and the true belief of a youngster; pure belief. The other examines how religion has played a key component in warfare. Note, both books are fictional, but both could be real... at least that is how I felt when I read these books.

Terrorist
Where do I begin? Given what occurred on September 11, 2001 people are very sensitive on the terrorist topic... and rightfully so. I won't get political or religious or go on a rant, but we do know that when we utter the mere word, "terrorist" people may get their back up. This book gets you from the very beginning. At the end of the day, read into it whatever you will. Among quite a few mixed messages I noted some of significance that I will share. The first is (and I have said this before reading this book), that many faiths out there are quite similar, and yet are at war with one another. The second is that a believer's pure belief, and misguidance can still lead to destruction and despair. I think that this book does just that. Lastly, as strong as we think we may be, we can still be brought to extreme weakness that is beyond our own view. By this, I mean that you may wholeheartedly believe in what you are doing, and miss it's blatant consequences. You want to judge every single character, but at the end, you really learn the meaning of naive. A quick, yet satisfying read! Enjoy!

Mornings in Jenin
WOW! What an amazing book! It chronologically captures the life of Amal and her ancestors. It captures the grief, the joy, the love, the determination, the pride and the beauty in the language of a Palestinian family and their friends and relatives. It is a one-sided story; it is told from the perspective of Muslims originating in Palestine and eventually Lebanon. That said, you don’t leave this book with bitterness or spite. You read this book and you leave with a little more perspective and an appreciation and sadness for people who lose their loved ones and have their relationships severed in the face of war. Regardless as to the side you would be on, war severs families and friends... nothing could repair that loss. This truly was a wonderful story; I urge you to pick it up and give it a read!!

Never a bad thing to say...

OK - I must have recently jinxed myself as I indicated to someone that I will read books to their entirety...... but every reader has their limits. I attempted to read, The Children's Book by A.S Byatt, but failed miserably. It might have been the smaller font and full pages. It might have been that I wasn't in the right mindset for reading this tale. It may have even been the fact that I am dealing with mommy brain right now. This I know, I read 70+ pages of this 615-page book and yes, it's true................. I gave up! This doesn't mean that you won't like it, but I had a hard time getting into it. Alas, the book is back in my return bag to the infamous librarian... perhaps a high school student will enjoy this book more than I did. Who knows...... perhaps I will try to re-read this another day... but folks, after a few days of trying, I failed. So sorry, but I do not have a review for this tale. Until the next time...

Details, details...

The Archivist is a great book. Simply put. It really is. I started reading this book and wasn't sure if I would enjoy it. I must have been about 40 pages in, and yep... I knew that I had to keep reading. Not to go too far off topic, but I have a slight neurosis myself... that is, I HAVE to finish reading what I pick up. I am trying to get better at this though; since come on... I want to ENJOY what I am reading. My rule of late has been to get through the first 65 pages. If at that point, I cannot go on, I am forced to put the book down. It doesn't mean that I might not start it again, but I need to move on. The "spirit" isn't there... and I want to be in the right mindset when I read a book. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was one where I hung in there... past the first 50 pages... and, "BAM!" I was hooked. I think it is fair to say, The Archivist didn't take me too many pages. The book is well written. Throughout it, I didn't know if I should feel worse for Matt or for Judith. I wondered about their relationship. I LOVED that the poetry so perfectly matched the emotions that went through the characters. It is a thought provoking book that hints of a romance, yet speaks of ultimate sacrifice and love. It talks about all the things you aren't supposed to at a fancy dinner party... sex, politics and religion. Etiquette manuals/articles everywhere will tell you to avoid these topics... but in a fictional setting, these topics are anything, but inappropriate! Great read!!

Little Bee - Anything, but Small...

A very compelling tale about a young woman's journey from Nigeria. I had to remind myself that I was reading fiction... and while I am somewhat knowledgeable about history, I ended up researching whether or not the information within this book was in fact "based on a true story." That, I leave up to you... what I can tell you is that this story is a quick read and one that makes you want to keep going and going. Not sure if I have mentioned this in previous posts... but I do like when stories flip between past and present. That being said, it is not something just any author can pull off. In this particular case, it is very well executed. The characters who you think you like, may not be characters you like at the very end of the book. And, when all is said and done, you are left with one very simple, playful, yet realistic thought... "are you a goodie or a baddie?" If you need a story that is very real, sad, inspiring and a story that restores your faith in mankind (well to an extent), pick this up!!

Bold Face Names

I read an article about Shinan Govani in Toronto Life a few months ago, and thought... what an interesting guy, and a Torontonian!! I was impressed at his wit and also found he was a pretty interesting guy... but aside from that, I didn’t really know much about him, nor did I really remember him, or follow his column or anything. Talk about coincidence!

As you know, my good friend, “the Librarian” leant me a number of books that I am in the midst of reading while she travels (remind me in my second life that the summer off is totally worth the crazy stress of being a teacher!)... Bold Face Names was one in the bag she left for me. I chose this (I have chosen 9 books total) because of its quick synopsis on the back cover... I thought... looks like a fun, quick read. One that doesn’t have a depressing storyline, and also a book that I could read and enjoy without feeling like a small bit of my intelligence just died!

Turns out – yes – it was written by Shinan... wonder if I can call him that? Anyhow... Shi is a great author... I have to say, I like his style... it’s easy to follow and a fun little read. This book won’t provide you with a different outlook on the world and will not introduce you to any overly profound thoughts... but it’s a great read and a good tale. I wonder if there are THAT many stars trotting around Toronto on a daily basis? What I do believe is that people invite “gossip” columnists to their parties with the expectation that they will be mentioned. Yes. Great read, especially for the summer!

PS - You will love it when "Mummy" calls to check in on him! Reminded me of a few old friends' parents... sigh.

The Mysteries of Pittsburgh left little to wonder about...

Wow. Michael Chabon's, The Mysteries of Pittsburgh confused me, intrigued me, and at times left me with my mouth gaping open in shock. While it had many twists and turns, like a curvy woman in a low-cut dress that is two sizes too small, there really wasn't much left to the imagination. I asked myself whether or not this was an appropriate high school student read (remember... this came from a high school library)... and then realized that it was published in the late '80s and I am a 62-year old, trapped as a 34-year old... so I am sure that it's not too racy for teenagers.

There were a couple of different plots within the book, but the focus was really around Art Bechstein, the main character. This guy struggled so much with his identity, his father's identity and the loss of his mother at such a young age, that his actions truly spoke louder than the words on the page. Wow. Is that the second time I am saying this? Yes.

Worth a read... but if you're an old woman like me, brace yourself... lots of sex and lots of "okaaaaaaay" moments. You may be left saying more than "wow," but you will definitely be surprised as each moment within the book unravels. Enjoy! 2 books down -- what, whaaat?!

The Effects of Light

The first book from my Librarian friend I cracked open. The verdict is........................................... WINNER/GAGNONS! Yes. This was a truly amazing story. The book is written in two voices and takes place in two times... the far away past and the very real present. There are serious details about art that the author either really searched for, or has an amazing interest in. When I read the book, I felt like it should have had the tag line, “based on a true story,” and yet, it has such sad elements in it that I was glad it wasn’t.
This would definitely be available at the library or any book store for that matter. It really is worth the read. It was a quick read too... one that is nice for those hot summer days where concentration may not be at its finest. It’s an easy read, without being flaky. Really. Check it out. If you have a sister, it makes you appreciate that you have that bond with someone. If you don’t have a sister (like me), it emphasizes the fact that your relationship will never be perfect, but it’s a lifelong bond that you will miss once it’s gone.

I don’t know what to say............. this book was over 800 pages and yet I was intrigued by each one! When I first started reading the book, I was a little concerned that perhaps this was a little above my level...... insert “high five your forehead duh” here. Seriously! The story line begins with some journalistic court case... and although I may have a major in Criminology, and love to watch a good episode of Law & Order, this was a little different. I quickly got past those pages and right into the thick of this book. While some critics will tell you that it is not as well translated (mother tongue is Swedish), I found the writing to be just fine. The storyline was gripping and just when you thought you had solved an issue, there was a twist. I was really sad to see this story end.
My Librarian friend so graciously took out a bunch of books from her library prior to departing on her month-long journey to Italy (gotta love teachers!). So, over the next few weeks, the titles you will be exposed to may not be on the “best seller” shelf at Chapters. In fact, I don’t think I have heard of quite a few of the books in the bag she dropped off at my house. I have to tell you though – once again – you can’t always judge by the “best selling” stickers... sometimes great books don’t have the publishing budget for the best table or shelf placement. I promise to give you an honest anecdote of what I read.

More than just a piece of cloth...

I have often heard the adage; there are three sides to every story... his side, her side and the truth. In this particular book, there are three sides, but they are not as clear cut as the above. While I was initially led to believe that this story would focus on Johnny Lim, as I got further into the book, I realized that it was about so many other things. Even the fabric that is mentioned in this story, had metaphorical presence. Johnny Lim liked a type of fabric that was considered peasant like, and yet it was beautiful in appearance and culturally significant to him. Johnny’s good friend Peter had quality clothing and things that others admired, but he didn’t have true joy and satisfaction in his life. This is a story of friendship, politics, hard times, classes within society and of course, love; you will not be disappointed.
Moving away from the story, let’s chat a little bit about value. I am a firm believer that you don’t need to read all the best sellers to enjoy a great story; OK – guilty... I have read A LOT of best sellers... I know... but C’mon... sometimes they just find their way into my book bag! In any event, I do often scan the bargain bins, or check on-line bargains (sorting least cost to high cost) and buy based on the description and availability. I am also fortunate enough to work in an office when my cube-mates also like to read, so sharing is a possibility too. This book, The Harmony Silk Factory was leant to me by a friend who thought she would try my “bargain bin book buy”............ and this time it worked! The book was less than 5 bucks... and so far, three of us have enjoyed reading it.
A story about Communism, Love, Chinese-English-Japanese relations......... a great read. AND... what a deal!!! Check it out today.
NEXT BLOG TEASER...................... Stay tuned for my 2 cents on....... The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Chewin' on some Chick Lit...

OK – this great summer weather has made it tough to sit down and write reviews.... but I have no excuses... here are two reviews for the price of one blog entry. I took about a week and a half to read Emily Giffin’s Something Borrowed and Something Blue. Yes everyone, I read what is commonly referred to “Chick Lit.” And, brace yourselves...... I enjoyed the books for what they are. These books are quick, easy to read books, with an interesting enough dilemma that keeps you reading. You may not necessarily be able to relate to the story (wow, I sure hope not), but I think these are very quick, light natured reads that could easily be accompanied by a tall glass of lemonade or iced tea; and even EASIER accompanied by something a little stronger...... a nice crisp white wine perhaps?

Am I rushing to the shelves to pick up more “Chick Lit?” No. Not for a while. The truth is however, Emily Giffin does write well, and her quick wit will cause you to read more of her books as they come out.
Now... as a result of the G20 I didn’t take the train in... and with this week being a short one, I drove as well. I look forward to getting back into the grind next week and polishing off a few books over the next couple of weeks. Have a great week or so.......... enjoy the sunshine!! AND..... if you haven’t already... check out Something Borrowed (first)... and then Something Blue.

My Life in France... makes me wanna eat baguette!

There is a certain romance that one associates with France; especially with Paris. There is also the food, the richness, the shopping, the beautiful and smug culture... when we think of France, we think of all of these things; OK at least I do. It is one destination I wish to explore with my husband and our little girl. I feel like the food, the culture and the scenery will be like no other. And, Julia's book, My Life in France really and truly describes Paris, French food, and of course her love for her husband Paul.

The entire book is so amazing; you also need to remind yourself of when this all took place. I read through this book and couldn't believe that it is an autobiography; it reads like a fictional story. Julia and Paul were two love birds. They built an entire life together; sometimes however I wonder if they were not in love like lovers, but rather companions and soul mates. I know, you ask, what is the difference? I just didn't get the same level of romantic love that I did as a friendship love. I believed they were perfect for each other.

If you want a feel good story, with amazing descriptions about food, friendship and wine... this is one you will want to pick up. Bon Apetit!

Better late than never... It's been a while...

The Gargoyle

When you first read the back cover of the Gargoyle, you initially think that you are going to get into a dark book, one that is quite sad and very serious. While I agree there are elements that are a little sad or dark, I really felt that the book itself was very uplifting. The main story is interesting, but the amazing tales that Marianne tells within this story are truly remarkable. They appear so real. These stories all seem like they are about true love and survival. These stories don’t leave you feeling sad, dark or serious... they make you want to read more and more.

I was sad when the story was over; and not because of the content... but because I would have loved to hear more stories from Marianne.

If you are looking for a love story, that isn’t your typical love story... this is a great read. It is well written, it has a wonderful story line, and you start to feel like the all the characters are people you know.

With my limited GO Train & TTC Travel these last few weeks, I read the book and never forgot where I left off. When given the chance... I was reading it. If you are looking for a nice summer read, this isn’t a true feel good story, but it is an interesting story about love and belief in others.

Women Food & God

Take a pile of common sense; translate it into how women feel about food and their self image; and yes... you have a book that will be featured on Oprah too! OK... maybe it’s not THAT easy. I am not a tall, slim, “shoulda been on America’s Next Top Model” gal... and I have spent my share of time on Weight Watchers and other food plans, so this was a good book for me to read! Here’s the scoop (not of ice cream, alas... I digress) on this book.

It’s a well written book that focuses on the retreats the author runs. She too was heavy in her lifetime. And, let’s face it... us “bigger gals” hate hearing skinny people talk about how successful their weight loss program was... especially when they started out at the top end of their BMI and are now at the lower end. I’m not a hater... but I do tend to listen to my “stretch mark soul sisters’” success stories with a motivated ear, easier than those skinny biatches out there – no offence you hotties!! I digress... let’s just say... she talks about accepting yourself, and accepting who you are, and accepting the requests of your BODY and not your mind. We feel like having macaroni and cheese for comfort, not because we are hungry and our body is in a cheese and pasta deficit. She also talks about wanting what you can’t have. Can I get an “AMEN!” Yes!! Lots of women want what they can’t have... and apparently, once you acknowledge that if you want ice cream, it’s always gonna be there... you get thin.

Fun time over. This is an interesting and very quick read. The author does plug a number of the other books she has written, but there are definitely “A-Ha” moments where you will nod in agreement with her writing. The moral of the story is, getting thin won’t guarantee happiness. Being happy and listening to your body should eventually lead to a healthy self.
I liked this book and it was a good distraction from my typical fictional repertoire. Hmmm... is that a French language reference? You’ll never guess what I am reading next.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time - Say that 5 times fast!

or...

... they're the same book!

No. I am not becoming obsessive and only reading books about Autism. It just so happened that a colleague at work lent me House Rules and now, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. It was an interesting little story; wow did I have a hard time keeping up with young Christopher Boone! This was a super quick read, and was VERY different from House Rules. If I were to compare the two main characters, Jacob in House Rules had Asperger's, while Christopher was a high functioning Autistic boy. What is interesting is how far literature has come in the last decade. I think the only time I had seen Autism in the "arts" was Rain Man. And, although I think that Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman did a heck of a job in showing us what (a form of) Autism was, these two books do show that clearly Autism is different for each person who has it. Hence, it being referred to as a Spectrum Disorder.

What each book does show is that family and loved ones are also affected. Now, let's not go out there and pity people with Autism in their families. Let's understand that when we see families dealing with children in public places who are having a tantrum, dealing with children who will only eat red food, dealing with their families period... we need to give them space and not stare or huff or judge. Know that the parents of this child are doing the best they can.


What did I learn from this book? Well, I learned that this young Autistic boy could remember details like a video camera. I learned that people in general are not as observant as they could be; nor are we very helpful when we aren't specifically asked to be. And lastly, I learned that "maths" are not my forte! Oh yes... you will understand what I mean after you read the book... but when you think that trivial things like the weather will affect whether you have a good day or not, ask yourself if this is logical. If your answer is yes, consider this... YOU and YOUR ACTIONS will control your day; not the colour of the car in front of you. Trust me... it will make sense after you read the book!!!


This was a clever story. A quick read and very enjoyable. It's about a boy, his pet rat, his love of dogs and his search for the truth! Because no matter what, the truth seems to be very important.


I promise, my next book is completely unrelated to the last two. And, it in fact has been borrowed by my "professional" friend, the Librarian... is promises not to disappoint.

House Rules leave me wanting more.........

Dear Jodi,

Why do you insist on writing compelling stories and stickin' us with these flat endings?! Yes. I am fully aware that life doesn't always provide closure, and that life doesn't have peachy keen endings; THIS IS WHY I READ FICTION!!! I am starting to rethink picking up another Picoult read... please HELP... make me read something that leaves me fulfilled!!

Sincerely,

Chatty Cathy

OK... while House Rules deals with a young man who follows rules to a "T," I broke my regular rules of only reading on the Train and found myself reading a few pages here and there while at home. Needless to say, my husband wasn't pleased to see me reading a page here and a page there; especially when I would read while he was talking to me. Oops!

House Rules is a well written book. The story is so believable; Jodi has really done her research. I wasn't just amazed by Jacob (the young man with Asperger's) perspective, but it is amazing to read this story from the perspective of those around him. Life isn't easy. His mom doesn't want pity and she doesn't seem to want to change Jacob for the world. His younger brother Theo (which is a name I LOVE!), doesn't sugarcoat his perspective either. I like that he has bad thoughts about his brother. I found the story to be very realistic.

If and when you read this one... do me a favour? Tell me if you liked the book and whether or not you found that the ending was appropriate? Fulfilling? Satisfying? OK for you? And... for the Jodi Picoult groupies who think all her books are the best thing since sliced bread - I dare you... recommend a book that isn't super depressing and has a great ending!

Wait for it......... House Rules

Jodi Picoult is known for writing about topics that make us all wonder what we would do? I have only read one of her books, My Sister's Keeper. I read that book, cover to cover, and while I was kept captive for the entire thing, I was a little disappointed with the end. Then I thought, "Is that the point?" Was the point of her book to make us think of a topic that would have us in knots over what we would do, versus what "that" mother did... only for the ending to.... well....... I don't want to spoil it? Point of the matter is this...... I am now reading House Rules. It's a relatively "thick" book, and so far I am less than 100 pages in. Here is what I know.

The story is centred around an autistic young adult, Jacob. He is 18 and living with Asperger's. Similar to My Sister's Keeper, the "chapters" are basically each character in the book's perspective on what is happening at the moment. A quick side track - I thought that I didn't like this style, but I do. In fact, I REALLY appreciate it. It's very interesting how each person has such differing perspectives; Bravo Jodi! Jacob has a younger brother, Theo who is truly affected by his brother. Mom (Emma) is a single mom after her husband decided he couldn't’t deal with their family’s situation. More to come I promise!

This story seems near to my heart. I personally have a great friend with a young son who is autistic. She is brave and she is amazing with her son. I recently attended a gala in support of this cause; so little funding is available for research and to assist families with autistic children. Perhaps this book will help raise some awareness.

I find the story quite compelling so far... stay tuned... I think this book may just be a winner!!

Eat ~Zzzzzzz~ Pray ~Zzzzzzzz~ Love ~Zzzzzzzzz~

Eating in Italy; praying in India; and loving in Indonesia. This is exactly what the book was about. And, although my “Zzzzzzzzzzz” are not about the author herself, or really about the writing, I had a hard time whipping through this book. Yes, there was some deeper meaning behind some of the words, but I think that it didn’t necessarily have me wondering what was going to happen next. I applaud Liz’s ability to overcome everything she was struggling with, and I certainly admire her ability to take a huge leap of faith in herself and away from her pain and poisons back home, but I didn’t necessarily think that all the hoopla for this book was appropriate. If I were going to judge a book by its cover, then I would have been guilty of buying this one for those reasons. Great cover, good content. I found myself reading certain passages and finding them most profound; her revelation about the true meaning of soulmate in this book is truly an amazing thought! That being said, there were many times that I either lost track of what I was reading, or just shut my book and caught some “Zzzzzzzzzzzzz” on the train instead. I can’t say that I am looking forward to watching the movie when it comes out... even Oprah is having a show dedicated to this book where she is inviting book clubs to come to her audience (well, I think there is a selection panel lined up for which book clubs are Oprah-worthy); I will pass.

This book simply explores eating, praying and loving. Perhaps the title and the content are meant to make us believe that we can control our own life and our own destiny through simple means. Perhaps the book is meant to tell us that we all need to take a moment of tranquil and relaxed prayer, or meditation in our lives. Perhaps the book is meant to tell us that we can’t all be perfect at everything, not even when we find our inner self. What the book will do is open your mind. Would I recommend you run out and pick this up for a read? Not really... borrow a friend’s copy... so many were sold, you must know one person who has read it. I was a good read. Good. Reading. Finished.

Is a Book by Any Other Name Just as Sweet?

Sugar? Maple syrup? Pie? What else could be so sweet? Two completely unrelated books... both with titles so sweet? Strangely enough, I read these books, one after the other. One a best seller and a mere $16+; the other on a “bargain books” list for $2 (minus my 5% discount online). The funny thing about all of this is that I enjoyed both books quite a bit. I will admit, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie was a phenomenal read right from the get-go, while Sugarmilk Falls took a little getting into. All in all, both were interesting, and both shared a common mystery to them; a “she-said, he-said” sort of account of tales. I think that the bottom line is this... it’s OK to go out there to purchase some of the hot sellers, or people picks, because they are typically pretty good. It is equally OK to pick up a book just because. I would bet that Sugarmilk Falls didn’t have the same PR, the same publishing back-up that The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie did; but this doesn’t mean that it wasn’t worth the read! Take a chance folks... perhaps judge a book by its cover... or maybe just its price. All in all, pick it up and read it! J

A quick review... The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. What can I say? After reading this book there are a few things I am really admiring... super smart (call them geeky even!) children who like science, adventure and pay attention to their own grammar. Oh, and more importantly... I fell in love with the names of all three sisters, Ophelia (Feely), Daphne (Daffy) and Flavia of course! Flavia is so quick-witted and clever and insolent you cannot help but wait to read what the next words out of her mouth will be. This book was a clever and animated all around “good feeling” read. I enjoyed it from start to finish; even the more serious and dark side of this book. I actually held this book in my hands at the bookstore one evening before I was interrupted by a shriek coming from the “Kid’s Section” that sounded vaguely familiar. I put the book down to find my toddler, “exchanging words” with daddy... that trip to the bookstore ended with no book in tote. L When my good friend, “The Librarian” recommended the read a day or two later, I went online and ordered it immediately! Thank goodness!!

As for Sugarmilk Falls, you will catch me for my frugality!! I didn’t judge this one by its cover. I didn’t get a fine recommendation from a professional. I did however want to fill my online book order to $39 so as to avoid paying shipping & handling... and thus, Sugarmilk Falls was purchased! This story is an interesting Canadian tale that brings a number of different character perspectives of the shenanigans (and even murder) that occurred over 20 years ago. This is a fictional story, and yet there are times one will ask herself, “Was this based on something true?” Find out for yourself. It was the best two bucks (minus 5%) I spent! Although this comment is a little exaggerated... you will soon find out, that I purchase quite a few books for less than five dollars. And hey, there’s nothing wrong with a cheap thrill(er) here and there!

My First Blog Ever.

Like many people today, I work in Toronto and live in the GTA. Mix in the fact that I have a toddler to drop-off on my way to work, and to pick-up on my way home, my commute is a long one! This commute time is further increased by taking the GO-Train & TTC. While this is not the cheapest form of travel, I am doing my part for the environment, I am lengthening the life of my vehicle (I hope!) and I am avoiding white knuckle winter drives! With all that time on the train and subway, it’s no surprise, I love to read!

My blog will focus on the books I read (as I finish them). Some books will take longer than others; and this might be due to a long list of reasons (chatting with friends on the train, sleeping, people watching, or plain old, having to drive into the office instead!)!! I only read during my commute (and possibly in a deck chair in my backyard... but it’s rare... remember, I have a toddler). I also have a couple of magazine subscriptions that trump any book I might be reading. Here’s the catch... while I am the first person to pick up a “best seller,” “Heather’s Pick,” or “Staff Favourite,” I am also a spend-savvy gal who enjoys picking up a bargain book for a couple of bucks! You would be surprised at how many great books I have read that have cost me less than a toonie!!

This blog is what it is... it’s me, paying lip service to literature. Comment, agree, disagree... enjoy the blog!!