Back at it.
I survived and completed NaNoWriMo. So now back to reading short stories and posting about them in this here LJ.
All from the Penguin Anthology as in my last entry.
142. "Abitibi Canyon" -Joseph Boyden
This writer just won the Giller Prize for his latest novel and his previous novel is already being studied in academia. Not bad for a relative newcomer to the literature circle. In this short story you see his skill with building events that could happen in the real world in a way that shows the connections between all peoples. Good and bad and tragedy come from the main event but the real enemy is always showcased in a way that is subtle but hard to miss.
143. "Falling in Love "-Sandra Birdsell
neutral about this story.
144. "Catechism" - Wayne Johnston
This story had me heading to the dictionary. The title just didn't fit the story. Did I ever get an education on how we can limit the definition of a word. Place and displacement are strong in this story. A very Canadian story.
145. "A Scarf" - Carol Shields
The prolific writer Shields can weave a story of character so strong you don't realize what is coming but it all makes sense. Even her characters are surprised by their journeys. I liked the ending. Her ability to make ordinary the story of life and the joy of reading it is stellar. She is one talented lady.
146. "Smoke's Fortune"- Timothy Taylor
I remember finding his first novel back in the 90's called Stanley Park in the library. I started it but just couldn't get back to it. I didn't like the topic matter. Too gritty for me. I did finish this short story but I am not enticed to go seek out his first novel or any that he has written since.
147. "The Madonna Feast"- Joan Clark
Mother's Day done different.
148. "Real Life Writes Real Bad"- Timothy Findley
Although this happens in a time period decades before it is really timeless. How life can swallow you whole and you merely got through the rest of your days shutting out the real world because it holds more pain than death.
149. "An Easy Life"- Bronwen Wallace
Is it all that easy? Sometimes it still can be like waiting for the other shoe to drop. How are your cells deciding your future?
150. "The Art of Cooking and Serving" - Margaret Atwood
Yes that huge Canadian Literary Stateswoman. Atwood's youth in the Northern Wilds spills into this story about a girl who at the age of 11 grows up in ways that are unknown to 11 year olds in this day and age-although there are likely some still faced with the same unearned responsibility for being a grownup when ill equipped to do so.
All from the Penguin Anthology as in my last entry.
142. "Abitibi Canyon" -Joseph Boyden
This writer just won the Giller Prize for his latest novel and his previous novel is already being studied in academia. Not bad for a relative newcomer to the literature circle. In this short story you see his skill with building events that could happen in the real world in a way that shows the connections between all peoples. Good and bad and tragedy come from the main event but the real enemy is always showcased in a way that is subtle but hard to miss.
143. "Falling in Love "-Sandra Birdsell
neutral about this story.
144. "Catechism" - Wayne Johnston
This story had me heading to the dictionary. The title just didn't fit the story. Did I ever get an education on how we can limit the definition of a word. Place and displacement are strong in this story. A very Canadian story.
145. "A Scarf" - Carol Shields
The prolific writer Shields can weave a story of character so strong you don't realize what is coming but it all makes sense. Even her characters are surprised by their journeys. I liked the ending. Her ability to make ordinary the story of life and the joy of reading it is stellar. She is one talented lady.
146. "Smoke's Fortune"- Timothy Taylor
I remember finding his first novel back in the 90's called Stanley Park in the library. I started it but just couldn't get back to it. I didn't like the topic matter. Too gritty for me. I did finish this short story but I am not enticed to go seek out his first novel or any that he has written since.
147. "The Madonna Feast"- Joan Clark
Mother's Day done different.
148. "Real Life Writes Real Bad"- Timothy Findley
Although this happens in a time period decades before it is really timeless. How life can swallow you whole and you merely got through the rest of your days shutting out the real world because it holds more pain than death.
149. "An Easy Life"- Bronwen Wallace
Is it all that easy? Sometimes it still can be like waiting for the other shoe to drop. How are your cells deciding your future?
150. "The Art of Cooking and Serving" - Margaret Atwood
Yes that huge Canadian Literary Stateswoman. Atwood's youth in the Northern Wilds spills into this story about a girl who at the age of 11 grows up in ways that are unknown to 11 year olds in this day and age-although there are likely some still faced with the same unearned responsibility for being a grownup when ill equipped to do so.