Isola

Isola by Allegra Goodman, 368 pages

When she was born, Marguerite was heir to a huge fortune and large estate in France. However, after her parents both died while she was young, her guardian uses her lands and fortune to buy his way into leading an expedition to the "isle of Canada," a journey that he forces Marguerite to take alongside him. Along the way, Marguerite falls in love with her guardian's secretary, and as punishment for this atrocity, her volatile guardian maroons the lovers (and Marguerite's longtime servant) on a desolate island off the coast of Canada. There, Marguerite must set aside the ways of her pampered lifestyle if she is to survive.

Based on the real life account of a 16th Century French noblewoman, this tale was gripping, harrowing, and compelling, while still remaining historically accurate. I finished this book wanting to know more about Marguerite, and more about the French exploration of Canada. An excellent read, and highly recommended, especially if you loved Island of the Blue Dolphins as a kid.

Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea

 Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomey, 596 pages.

This book, originally published in 1908, has been a favorite of mine for a long time; and although I'm not quite as fond of the sequels, I do still quite enjoy them. For anyone who hasn't read these books in the 120 years they've been popular, they follow Anne Shirley, an orphan who is adopted into a small Canadian town and has a talent for getting into scrapes, imagining things, and seeing the beauty of the world. This time I'm listening to the books as read by Mary Kate Wiles and a full cast of her friends, mostly other actors from her Shipwrecked Comedy group. They do a great job bringing the characters to life, and I highly recommend this if you're looking for an audio version of this classic! (It's also technically a podcast, meaning that these are free on Spotify)

A selection of August graphic novels

 Middlewest: The Complete Tale by Skottie Young with art by Jorge Corona (2021) 560 pages

I first encountered Skottie Young's work as an artist in the Marvel Oz adaptations. When I saw the story synopsis of this adventure Young wrote I knew I would enjoy it. There are multiple homages to the land of Oz. Middlewest could be Kansas. There's a deep level and a surface layer. The story explores generational trauma and men with anger issues. But visually it is a thrilling fantasy world, not quite like our own. Abel's closest confidant is a talking fox, there are diesel-punk flourishes, and a found family in a traveling carnival. By about half way through, the story ventures in its own direction with less obvious Oz references. There is human trafficking of children as farm workers. As more characters become involved in the story, and with multiple characters who turn into violent storms, there are wide shots with a lot of chaos where it is hard to keep track of all the moving parts. However, the art by Jorge Corona with color by Jean-Francois Beaulieu really pops the majority of the time.

Climate Changed: A Personal Journey through the Science by Philippe Squarzoni (2012) 467 pages

Through references to films and other books the author let's us into his thought process on how to begin, end, and present compelling arguments in graphic non-fiction form. It is part memoir, but still the bulk of it is presenting the facts about human technology and its effect on the Earth's environment. The author is French and he interviews several experts from France, but they represent international nonprofits or governmental advisory boards in many cases. Climate change is true. It is time to stop denying it. We must reduce greenhouse gas emissions! But will Capitalist powers in the industrialized world get behind changing our way of life? There is a metaphor that the author describes about a parachutist who forgot his parachute that is very impactful. At over 450 pages, there are so many facts and figures, as well as sociological concerns to take in. The strongest message that Squarzoni conveys is that we are running out of time to stop or reverse the damage done to this ecosystem we share.

A Girl Called Echo Omnibus by Katherena Vermette with art by Scott B Henderson (2023) 224 pages

Issue #1 feels too short. You spend quite a bit of time with Echo in the real world, not just time traveling back to the 19th century. There isn't a fantasy or sci-fi method to her time traveling. It is more like she has a great imagination and a good history teacher. Echo seeks out other books about the Pemmican Wars period in her school library rather than just relying on the class's textbook. She's a good student although she has a hard time making friends. She loves rock music and has a shaky relationship with her mom. The art is good, but not super exciting. In issue #2, Echo begins to make friends in middle school and falls in love with a boy back in the 1800s. The Metis fight for their right to govern themselves when their territory is sold to Canada. Again with the history lesson we are given very brief highlights of major events, but I wish it was more in depth. I wish we learned more about the people and how they lived. I did not fully understand the political maneuvering. There are a couple pages that act as montages, but the writer and artist are trying to pack too much information into those pages. They should have been given more pages to tell the story. Issue #3 spends less time in Echo's modern day life with more pages devoted to 1885. The history is the real selling point and we get some continuity between issues 2 and 3. I like that the authors acknowledge the emotional trauma that Echo is experiencing as a witness to history. The resistance fighting can lead to death and loss, but it is necessary. The writer connects Echo to her ancestry directly in this one. Issue #4 is a pretty strong conclusion that wraps up the loose threads. Echo gains more control of when she travels back and forth in time. US history and Canadian history are fairly similar in constantly taking land from Indigenous people. There are no big surprises in this issue, but Echo is shown by people in her life (past and present) that despite the anger and pain her people have survived and have a future.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - The Scorpius Run by Mike Johnson and Ryan Parrott with art by Angel Hernandez (2024) 128 pages

Fun adventure. This takes place sometime before the current third season, which is airing as I read this. Good art of new characters and old. The villain seems to have god-like powers. The full Enterprise crew, plus newly introduced aliens, all have important parts to play. A dangerous spaceship race is set up in this new Scorpius Sector and Captain Pike must figure out how to unite the competitors.

Stitches: A Memoir by David Small (2009) 329 pages

A blurb on the back cover from a critic at the Washington Post is spot on.      "[Small] employs angled shots and silent montages worthy of Alfred Hitchcock." The author's ability to show us his dreams and nightmares is amazing. His real life is so full of angry silences and repressed emotions. One dream while visiting grandma with Jesus on a crucifix repeating his grandma's words, "He was a Durn Little Fool!" is especially memorable. Alice in Wonderland provides some meaningful symbolism through Small's young life too, including his therapist being the white rabbit. The many surprise revelations of his troubled family are tough, but somewhat relatable.

The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler by John Hendrix (2018) 176 pages

Good coverage of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's life and some German history. I like the visuals too, a combination of realistic and symbolic. The rise of Hitler is described in detail. Then we learn about Dietrich's rebel seminary as Nazi's were coming to power and the German spy agency Abwehr (pronounced UP-fair) that contained many agents who were conspiring to stop Hitler. Each of three attempts to assassinate Hitler are described with high suspense. The author says, "This story is not primarily a work of scholarship but a work of art," but I commend his research. Very successful graphic nonfiction.

Bury Your Dead

Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny (2010), 371 pgs. 

Unable to resolve terrible events in his own recent history, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache turns to historical mysteries for comfort. He spends his days in the Literary and Historical Society, an enclave of English literature in the midst of Francophone Quebec, distracting himself with research on incidents that occurred many years ago. Inspector Gamache soon realizes he is not the only one ruminating on the past, as an obsessive historian turns up dead in this safe haven of research. While Inspector Gamache works with Canadian history, Inspector Beauvoir returns to Three Pines for comfort and clarity on the team's most recent case there. The two soon realize that the past, like the present, is never quite as it may have once seemed.

This story has a lot of plot lines to follow--the mystery of Quebec's founder, the mystery of the historian's murder, the case in Three Pines, and the recent case which left Gamache and Beauvoir so wounded--so many that I think the impact of each is dulled. As you move through the book, you learn a little about each plot line at a time, meaning that at times it does not even feel like you are progressing, rather taking four steps to the side before moving forward. I do, however, love how unabashedly Canadian this book is. I loved learning about the tense situation between languages spoken in Quebec, and I loved getting a glimpse of Canadian history (the good, the bad, and the ugly) through the Louise Penny's lens. This is an interesting story; it is just a lot. 

A selection of March graphic novels

 Alice Guy: First Lady of Film by Jose-Louis Bocquet with art by Catel Muller (2021) 400 pages

I have read several graphic biographies. They are often fairly slim and only highlight a few moments from the person's life. This one has over 300 pages to graphically tell the story of Alice Guy's life. Her childhood was fascinating and international. The episodes showing her early positions as stenographer/secretary does not ignore the sexism of the male workforce. Her work relationship with Gaumont who takes a photography shop in Paris into the emerging, innovative motion picture industry was stern, but supportive. Rather than documenting events or making magic trick films, Alice had ideas for fictional films and directed many, many herself, though only a few still survive. In the early days of film people were already experimenting with synchronized sound. Alice directed several early "music videos" too. She meets and works with Herbert Blaché who would become her husband. They go to America. They have two kids. He is unfaithful. They found their own film studio. She continues directing, but then fortunes turn. It is brief, but still fairly detailed in tracing her later life. The writer then provides 75 pages of a timeline and biographical notes. Overall an excellent book.

Guardian of Fukushima by Fabien Grolleau with art by Ewen Blain (2021) 144 pages

I also read the free comic book day preview a couple years ago and it stuck in my mind. I enjoyed reading the full graphic novel. The mythological elements mixed with the true story works well. The writing and the art complement each other so well. As the bonus material at the end sums up, it was a triple tragedy of earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster at Fukushima in 2011. Naoto Matsumura caring for all the pets and farm animals left behind in the irradiated zone is so heartwarming. Based on the preview, I expected more of the story to be about the day to day life of caring for these living creatures that share our home. The final chapter actually involves Naoto being a spokesperson campaigning for less reliance on dangerous nuclear power.

The Library Mule of Cordoba by Wilfred Lupano with art by Leonard Chemineau (2021) 263 pages

Since I work in a library, you might expect this is right up my alley. You'd be right. I loved this comic adventure. I mean comic as in funny haha. Historical fiction with well-drawn characters. The twists and turns that the three heroes and the mule encounter on their journey/escape kept surprising me. Zealots in Cordoba in the late 900s begin burning books that do not fit their interpretation of religious texts. A librarian and two assistant copyists escape with about 100 books overloaded on a stubborn mule, the worst mule in the world. Cunning misadventures boosted by knowledge from these books helps the escapees survive and narrowly avoid capture or death. The storytelling is complex with multiple flashbacks and details about the time period. I think this was planned as a complete work, not separate issues/chapters that were later bound together. The art is incredibly emotive and humorous. The writer and artist obviously love books, and knowledge, and libraries. There is a fantastic afterword with a bit more history too.

The Outside Circle: A Graphic Novel by Patti Laboucane-Benson with art by Kelly Mellings (2015) 128 pages

The art work took awhile to grow on me. The Outside Circle is about indigenous/aboriginal men from broken homes in Canada. Once the main character Pete is in the prison infirmary and the In Search of Your Warrior program is offered as rehabilitation the story really takes off. The writer is a researcher of native counselling services in Alberta, so this is a real service she wants to share with the world. The men, many with gang affiliation, learn about their roots and learn to break generational trauma from residential schools and families being torn apart. There is a symbolic use of masks throughout. Pete imagines a mask covering his face when he uses violence. Later, the Warrior program has the men make plaster masks of their faces to contemplate their true inner person as they near graduation. Pete finds the strength to stop his gang involvement and reconnects with his younger brother, an uncle he never knew, and a daughter he had rejected. It is uplifting and inspirational.

The Third Wife of Faraday House

The Third Wife of Faraday House by B.R. Myers, 338 pages

Emeline Fitzpatrick is determined to marry her beau, a dashing lieutenant in the British Navy, but her guardians instead ship her off to be the third wife of wealthy Captain Graves, whose first two brides died in childbirth. Or at least that's what Emeline's told, as when she arrives at Graves' remote island home, she finds that the second Mrs. Graves, Georgina, is still alive, though just barely. Sure that her Navy suitor is coming to rescue her, Emeline is determined to keep Georgina alive as long as possible, and see if she can't figure out what's actually killing her.

This gothic tale has tinges of Jane Eyre and more than a little Rebecca, though it pales in comparison to both of those classics. This was suggested to me as a mystery, and while it's definitely mysterious, it's not A Mystery, if you will. Still, it's a fun gothic romp (if that's not too much of a contradiction!), with a helping hand from a ghost.

We Speak Through The Mountain

We Speak Through The Mountain by Premee Mohamed, 143 pages

In this sequel to Annual Migration of Clouds, protagonist Reid has made it to the safe bubble of Howse University, despite her lifelong battle with a horrendous virus and almost losing her leg to a wild boar. At the university she finds safety, shelter, and just about anything she could want — except answers. As she keeps pressing to learn more about what caused the environmental destruction of her hometown, and the virus that's affecting so many of its residents, Reid rapidly finds herself on the wrong side of the university authorities.

This was an excellent sequel to a book I wish I'd read first. This was recommended to me and I picked it up without realizing it was a sequel. Someday I'll go back and read the first book, but I really wish I'd done a bit of homework and read that one first. Because it's a fascinating world Mohamed has created, full of thought-provoking questions about privilege and how it can and should be wielded.

Walkaway

Walkaway by Cory Doctorow, 491 pages

In the not-too-distant future, the gap between the wealthy and the working class has grown to the point that some people who see no chance at ever retiring or finding happiness while working have decided to simply walk away from capitalist society and into the rural areas of the world, creating communities based on helping each other out, using skills when and where needed, and rejecting all of the bartering, money, and competition that defines "default" society. Walkaway follows three young adults who make the decision to walk away, exploring the places they go, the people they meet, the technology that makes walkaway communities possible, and the inherent danger of throwing off the yoke of a consumer/capitalist society. It's an intriguing thought experiment, and while it wasn't a quick read by any means, I enjoyed the thoughtful care Doctorow put into creating this world that is somehow both beyond anything imaginable and disturbingly realistic. I can't wait to see what the Orcs & Aliens make of it tonight!

A World of Curiosities

A World of Curiosities by Louise Penny (2022) 390 pages

What starts with the need for more space in an apartment in the village of Three Pines leads to a walled off area broken through - a wall that was erected over a hundred years ago - revealing a huge painting that partially replicates a famous painting in England. The creepiest part of this painting is how many of its altered elements seem to be speaking out to Chief Inspector Gamache directly, hinting at details committed by a serial killer who was in prison for his gruesome crimes. But then, how was the painting put behind the brick wall relatively recently, with no one being aware of it being done?

The novel also brings us back 10 years ago, to the murder case where Chief Inspector Gamache first chose to bring the outspoken, rather disrespectful Jean-Guy Beauvoir onto his team. That case was pivotal to so much of what follows in this series. Two abused children are orphaned when their mother is murdered. Their appearance in this story as young adults adds much second-guessing.

So many of the residents in the village are involved in this intricate, and at times, quite suspenseful novel. Already a Penny fan, I found this story to be among her very best.

The Collected Essex County

The Collected Essex County by Jeff Lemire, 512 pages

In this critically acclaimed Canadian graphic novel trilogy (presented here in a single volume), Lemire gives a glimpse into the world of rural Essex County, Ontario. The intertwined stories tell of an orphaned young boy who lives uncomfortably on his uncle's farm, a pair of long-estranged hockey-playing brothers, a rural nurse, a young nun, and a gas station owner. The quiet characters and their unspoken conflicts, both internal and interpersonal, are highlighted by Lemire's black-and-white illustrations. There's a lot to ruminate on, and it's understandable why this series is so lauded. My only regret is that it took me this long to finally get around to reading it.

Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands

 

Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton, 430 pages

I know that Kara has already blogged about this graphic novel, so this is all I'm going to say: It is a fascinating, infuriating, and emotional journey, and everyone should take the time to read and absorb it.

Ducks

Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton, 430 pages

In this honest and earnest graphic memoir, cartoonist Kate Beaton recalls the time she spent working in the oil sands of Alberta, Canada, to quickly earn money to pay off student loans. Somehow, in this single volume of black and white comics, Beaton is able to portray the stark landscape of Alberta, the environmental impacts of the oil industry, the tough working conditions for all (but particularly for the grossly-outnumbered women) in the oil sands, the difficult situations that lead so many Canadians from the eastern provinces to head west for work, and an incredibly nuanced look at the people who have made the journey. And all of this is secondary to Beaton's own story and experiences, which is told candidly and unflinchingly. I can see why this book is on so many Best of 2022 lists.

A Better Man

 

A Better Man by Louise Penny (2019) 437 pages

Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his son-in-law, Jean-Guy Beauvoir are working together, along with Isabelle Lacoste, on what will be Beauvoir's last case before he and his family move to Paris. A colleague alerts them to a friend's distress at his daughter's disappearance. The daughter, Vivienne, is married to a man, Carl Tracey, who abuses her, and her father is completely agitated. Meanwhile, the winter is turning to spring, and the rain and melting snow are overloading the rivers. Canadians are facing catastrophic flooding, including at Three Pines, the village where Gamache and his wife live, which is also near where Vivienne and her husband live. There's also a large amount of politicking going on, because the risks involved with mitigating the flooding could cause other disasters, and no one wants to be blamed.

When Vivienne's body is found in the aftermath of flooding, all signs point to her husband's actions causing her fall from a bridge. But will he be released on a technicality (or two)? The investigative team is working at a frenzied pace to tighten the case.

This is probably my favorite mystery series when I'm ready for a meaty read, and it did not disappoint.

Hana Khan Carries On

Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin, 350 pages

Hana Khan is a young Muslim woman in Toronto, working three jobs (though only one that pays anything) in order to help her family's halal restaurant while pursuing her dream of a career in radio broadcasting. She's recently started an anonymous podcast in which she muses about being the daughter of Muslim immigrants and quickly gains a devoted, but equally anonymous, fan known only by "StanleyP." As their friendship moves from the comments sections to direct messaging, Hana finds herself wanting to make this relationship real. In the meantime, she's stuck in an internship where she's expected to speak for all Muslims, while simultaneously trying to save her family's restaurant from going under as a new halal restaurant (owned by dreamy Vancouver transplant Aydin) gets ready to open down the block.

This is Jalaluddin's second novel, after Ayesha at Last, and both are excellent examples of romance novels that focus on the emotional and personality connection rather than the physical. I mean, there's not a single kiss in this book! But it still has all of the heart and romantic tension of any other romance novel, while serving up something that's true to the hajib-wearing main characters. I love the way that the relationships are presented, as well as the growth in the main characters in very realistic situations. Even if you're not a romance reader, it's worth a try.

Nobody Cries at Bingo by Dawn Dumont

 

Nobody Cries at Bingo by Dawn Dumont. 298 pp.

Dawn Dumont grew up on the Okanese First Nation reserve in Saskatchewan, and her life might be somewhat reminiscent of other native experiences that have been put to paper--struggles with drinking, addiction, the trauma of residential schooling--but you probably haven't read anything so consistently funny that also happens to include the aforementioned subject matter. Dumont's experiences might be specific to her identity, but the voice of her childhood feels so universal. Being sassy, knowing all the answers even when you don't, the inability to resist curiosity even when you know the outcome will be terrible. Nobody Cries at Bingo is told in a series of vignettes with Dawn's older, wiser, it's-funny-in-hindsight voice narrating the trials and tribulations of a very serious rez girl. For all the humor that comes up in books, I don't always find myself laughing out loud, but this proved an exception. I look forward to reading more of Dumont's work.

Note: This book is listed in several places as young adult. I would argue that it's adult with crossover appeal to young adults. Dumont does not shy away from strong language and mature physical content.

Ties that Tether

 

Ties that tether / Jane Igharo, read by Nkeki Obi-Melekwe, & Gary Tiedemann 308 pages.

At 12, Azere promised her dying father she would marry a Nigerian man. She lives in Canada now and has every intention of keeping the promise until a hot one night stand turns into something more.  Now her mother is disowning her but Raphael, the sexy Spaniard is making her forget her promise. Oh yea, there are other obstacles.  He has darkness in his past and she can't get rid of her guilt.  They better figure something out quick, turns out she also has a secret.  Pretty standard romance fare but nicely narrated by Nkeki Obi-Melekwe. Tiedemann isn't as good but he is working with less.

Autopsy of a Boring Wife

 

Autopsy of a Boring Wife by Marie-Renee Lavoie [translated by Arielle Aaronson] (2017) 275 pages

After three children and 25 years of marriage. Diane is completely blindsided when her husband Jacques leaves her for a younger woman. She takes refuge with her divorced friend Claudine. Their relationship reminds me of Lucy Ricardo and Ethel Mertz. Diane's over-the-top actions, egged on by Claudine's suggestions, result in situations that don't make good sense, but do make for good theater. Diane even agrees to meet with the "other woman." (Oh no!) Each time Diane gets in an especially desolate mood, she gets out a sledge hammer. (Bye bye, couch.) Drinks are thrown, screaming fits happen. This is not a book from which advice can be gleaned. However, if one is looking for the spurned woman's revenge, this book can help fill the need!

Empire of Wild

Empire of Wild by Cherie Dimaline, 300 pages

More than 11 months ago, Joan's husband, Victor, disappeared in the middle of an argument. Since then, she's been searching for him constantly, refusing to believe that he either left her for another woman or died in the wilderness surrounding their Canadian hometown (both of which are popular theories among their small First Nations community). But when Joan stumbles across a Victor that has no recollection of her in a traveling church tent, another option comes into play: that Victor has been taken by the mythical demonic rogarou of indigenous stories. Suddenly, Joan's search has become more dangerous and more pressing.

While creature features aren't my particularly favorite brand of horror, I appreciated seeing the indigenous story play out. It's interesting seeing the complicated world of First Nations people play out against a horror backdrop, and Dimaline does an excellent job of balancing the realistic life and the supernatural scary in this book. It's an enjoyable read, and more than a bit spooky.

Glass Houses

Glass Houses by Louise Penny (2017) 391 pages

Armand Gamache is now the Chief Superintendent over the entire Sȗreté du Québec. This story opens at a murder trial at which Gamache is a witness. The murder occurred in Three Pines, a tiny
village in which Gamache and his wife now live. A masked, black-robed figure had appeared in the village during a Halloween costume party at the bistro, and the silent figure continues to haunt the village green, disappearing at night and reappearing each morning. The villagers are quite spooked. The story alternates between this time in November and the trial the following summer. It's not even clear who was murdered or who is on trial. The acerbic prosecutor treats Gamache as if Gamache were the one on trial--why didn't Gamache take action to remove this robed person before the situation became a murder? Gamache's response that the robed person was not breaking the law didn't seem to suffice.

Meanwhile, we learn that in the year since Gamache had taken charge of the Sȗreté du Québec, the drug trafficking situation had gotten even worse than it had been already. The drug cartels were becoming quite bold. There was much criticism that Gamache, although he had a stellar career in routing out corruption in the Sȗreté itself, had gotten older and in over his head.

This novel, 13th in the series, unrolls tantalizingly, another fine example of the writing that keeps me coming back for more.

The Nature of the Beast

The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny (2015) 376 pages

Laurent is an energetically imaginative child who has worn out the villagers of Three Pines with his constant stories about what he has found, so they basically ignore the nine-year-old when he runs into the bistro shouting about a huge gun with a monster on it. When the child goes missing and is later found dead the next day, it is thought be be an accident alongside the road. When a search in the woods results in an amazing discovery of weaponry from decades prior, all kinds of questions arise, including: Is this why Laurent is dead? Does the discovery continue to present a danger?

Because a mystery with Armand Gamache is never just one mystery, we also learn about a play that is about to be performed in the village, a play that the director found in her uncle's belongings after his death. In spite of the humor within the script, there is a dark story behind it.

Although Armand Gamache and his wife, Reine-Marie retired when they moved to the village, Gamache is very much involved in learning what is going on. Working with Isabelle Lacoste, the new head of homicide for the Sȗreté du Québec, and Jean-Guy Beauvoir, Gamache's former second-in-command, a gut-wrenching decision needs to be made in order to prevent grave horror.