2015: Comments on the Books

I've just started Intolerable: A Memoir of Extremes by Kamal Al-Solaylee and have started this thread so we can post which books we are reading and what we think of them.

I finished Intolerable: A Memoir of Extremes last night and am still trying to understand my ambivalence about it. On the one hand, I admired the author's honesty about what he was feeling and thinking -- even when he was acting in ways that could be perceived as selfish. He didn't try to gloss over what was happening to him.

On the other hand, I often sensed a lack of passion in the writing, and had to remind myself of the real challenges the author faced in watching the changes in his family and in trying to live his life as a gay man.

I guess that means I found the writing a little uneven?

When Everything Feels Like the Movies really didn't work for me. I liked Jude's strong voice and strength of self, but had trouble following the plot.

I'm about to re-read Ru, which also underwhelmed me the first time I read it. So far, not a stellar year for Canada Reads!

Loved Ru upon re-reading it. Such beautiful writing....simple style, yet able to evoke powerful images and emotions.

Next up: And the Birds Rained Down

And The Birds Rained Down blew me away. Beautifully written, it tells a story of love; of choosing how to live and when to die. Heads above the other books, IMHO.

Great Lynn that you started this thread!

This is the first year I haven't read the Canada Reads selections before the discussion started. Based on the comments above, I think I'll just read Ru and And the Birds Rained Down. None of the others appeal to me very much. I agree, not a stellar year for Canada Reads.

I haven't (yet) read any of the books. If I haven't already read any, I listen to the debates first, then decide which I want to read.

And yikes! It starts tomorrow! It's a busy week for me, so I'll have to find time to fit in listening to the debates somehow...

I have had little interest in Canada Reads this year too. No idea what it is, but it seems to be lacking somehow. I read Ru a couple of years ago, and while I recognize that it's a well written and thoughtful book, it didn't make much of an impression on me. I guess that between the books and the panellists, I don't feel like I have any skin in this game.

I have read Thomas King and admire him as a writer greatly, but haven't read his particular book in the competition.

It's a busy week for me, so I'll have to find time to fit in listening to the debates somehow...

Well, at least CBC makes it really easy to listen at your convenience.

I've listened through the trailers, and I have to say they have my attention. My ambivalence is fading . . .

I was underwhelmed by the books this year. My favourite was And the Birds Rained Down, but I agree with some of the panelists that it may be too subtle to break barriers.

I also agree that When Everything Feels like the Movies is not something all Canada could read.

And, I'm very surprised that The Inconvenient Indian didn't win...as was the studio audience.

On to day 3.

>10 Nickelini: Yes, you're right! It is easy to come back and listen later. I just hate coming across the spoilers before I get to it!!

>11 LynnB: But, since (so far) I've been able to keep up, I agree with you (based on what was said!) about "When Everything Feels Like the Movies". And "The Inconvenient Indian" surprised me, as well! I had just finished commenting on facebook that I thought Craig Keilburger was doing a really good job arguing for it. I think it was strategic...