#IMWAYR January 7, 2019

#IMWAYR time again, when readers share what they have been reading and find out what others have been up to in the past week. Kathryn hosts the adult version of this meme at Book Date. Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee and Ricki at Unleashing Readers host the kidlit rendition. Whatever you are looking forward to in your next great read, these are fabulous places to start your search.

New Years Day my partner and I headed off to our Okanagan house for a few days of rest and relaxation. I planned to go on long walks but slammed my foot into something and ended up damaging one of my toes. It made wearing shoes impossible. Wool socks with flip flops worked to go visiting, but isn't conducive to wandering outside in winter. We arrived safely back in Vancouver late Sunday after a bit of a harrowing journey through sections of snow and icy highway. 

One of my plans this year is to highlight books by Canadian authors. We are so close to the USA that our brilliant writers can easily get overlooked. I'm also wondering if I should actually try to read less. It's hard to keep track of even the best books with so many to remember. My rememberer doesn't work as well as it once did. How do you all keep track?

BLOG POSTS LAST WEEK

Favourite Graphic Novels of 2018

Notable Novels from 2018

PICTURE BOOKS

4 stars

We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell & Frané Lessac (Illustrator)

I read this and was so awed I put the book down to come back to it again. I think it was better the second time round. Frané Lessac's art is spectacular. This book does two important things. First it shows us modern indigenous people living lives steeped in their culture. Second, while focusing on those aspects of their lives that they are grateful for, it reminds all of us to be thankful for the ordinary as well as the extraordinary aspects in our own lives. Cherokee vocabulary is integrated into Traci Sorell's text. I appreciated the pronunciation guide at the bottom of the pages. 

4 stars

Off & Away by Cale Atkinson

This is a multilayered book about overcoming our fears. Jo is afraid of what lives beneath the surface of the ocean. When her father is too ill to deliver bottles full of messages, she has to take on his job. Not only does she overcome her fears, she discovers that many of them are imaginary and makes new friends.

Cale Atkinson is Canadian author. He makes his home in the beautiful province of BC. 

5 stars

Night Job by Karen Hesse & G. Brian Karas (Illustrations)

A young boy accompanies his father while he works as a janitor at a school. Lyrical is the best word to describe the gorgeous writing in this book. Karen Hesse's words are breathtaking.

We pull into our space.

Dad hauls out a ring of keys

as big as the rising moon.

He opens the door,

and the building sighs.

Come, it whispers to us.

G. Bryan Karas' grey toned illustrations capture both the ambience of the night and the loving relationship between the two of them.

4 stars

Rapunzel by Bethan Woollvin

I'm glad I don't have to decide what I like best about this series: the illustrations or the stories themselves. I love how Woollvin twists these traditional tales wherein strong women and girls vanquish evil. I also love her artwork. It's mostly black and white with one other color. In this case it's the yellow of Rapunzel's hair.

NONFICTION PICTURE BOOKS

5+ stars

The Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the World's Coral Reefs: The Story of Ken Nedimyer and the Coral Restoration Foundation by Kate Messner & Matthew Forsythe (Illustrator)

This was my first nonfiction picture book of 2019. It sets a very high bar for the rest of them to meet.

Matthew Forsythe's illustrations are beyond stunning. They are mesmerizing. I want a framed copy of the page that shows Ken Nedimyer as a young boy sitting on the beach staring out at the golden ocean. I love how Nedimyer has captured the essence of this young boy with his hair whorl and ears sticking out. His art unites with Kate Messner's lyrical text to create a spectacular book that is both informative and inspirational.

I wonder if they can collaborate on a new book explaining why the sea urchins died and what is being done about this.

4 stars

Do You See My Tail? by Anita Bijsterbosch

Each two page spread begins with the question, Do you see my tail? This is followed by a brief description and another question, Guess who I am? Lifting the flap on the next page reveals the animal. I like this book and think that my grandchildren will too. I'm reserving the right to change my evaluation of this book depending on what they think.

3.5 stars

Snails Are Just My Speed! by Kevin McCloskey

This is a fun informative toon book that introduces readers to snails. It provides detail about their biology, their predators and reproduction. I liked the use of comparisons to other animals to show how fast they move. I had no idea that snails make mucus roads that other snails follow, but that does account for why some of my plants get devoured before others.

NONFICTION

3.5 stars

Reckless Daughter: A Portrait of Joni Mitchell by David Yaffe & Xe Sands (Narrator)

Back in the 1960’s and 70’s my sister and I sang along to our treasured Joni Mitchell albums. We knew all the lyrics. These days when I run into another fan we often end up crooning our favourites together. I feel as though I have met a soulmate if they can join me in Twisted.

Thus I was excited to see this biography. I enjoyed Xe Sands’ narration and appreciated learning the backstory that led to the different albums. 

It's just, sometimes you don’t want to know exactly everything about your idols. You want them to maintain their mythic status. You don’t want to learn about their pettiness and flaws. You don’t want them to be human.

I would be lying if I told you I loved this book. I almost abandoned it at one point, but didn’t and am glad I finished it. It turns out that it’s ok to see that people you admire are just human after all. It made me appreciate Mitchell’s genius even more.

I especially appreciated my Spotify account so I could go and to listen to the music I was reading about. Being able to listen in conjunction with the book turned out to be a brilliant way to appreciate her music and life more deeply. It’s what enabled me to continue when I was ready to give up. In retrospect I think it would be better to have the music in the background while reading the book with my eyes. I recommend it if you decide to give this a go. 

NOVELS

4 stars

A True Home (Heartwood Hotel #1) by Kallie George & Stephanie Graegin (Illustrations)

This is the first in a charming series with animal characters. It’s for readers moving into longer transitional chapter books. The Heartwood hotel is a hollow tree in a forest that is run by different animals for the benefit of other ones.

It centres around Mona, a spunky mouse, who comes upon the hotel by accident ands stays to work as a maid.

I’m off to find the next in the series.

Kallie George is not only Canadian, she lives in my city!

4 stars

Sadie by Courtney Summers

This book took me WAY out of my comfort zone. It's told in two parts. One part is the story of a girl name Sadie, who is searching for her sister's murderer. The other part is the transcription of a podcast about the two girls and what happened to them. It's a dark thriller that brings awareness of child sex abuse and highlights why so many girls go missing.

Courtney Summers is Canadian author who lives in Ontario.

GRAPHIC

4 stars

On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden

I loved the story, the world building, the art and the characters in this science fiction graphic novel. I loved that it is entirely populated with individuals who are women or nonbinary. It showcases many different aspects of love within fully authentic relationships. Across the span of the book they all grow and change. Walden's artwork: the buildings, the different parts of the universe, and the boarding school are atmospherically gorgeous. I really appreciated the contrast between the expansiveness of her universe juxtaposed with the intimacy of the connections between the characters.

However, the font is nearly minuscule and unless I was sitting in front of window with the sun shining through, reading the text was an exercise in frustration.

CURRENTLY

I've downloaded and plan to start listening to The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny. I'm reading What If It's Us by Adam Silvera & Becky Albertalli. I've just started The Witch Boy by Molly Ostertag.

UP NEXT

I've got a couple of graphic novels to read, Aquicorn Cove by Katie O'Neill & Illegal by Eoin Colfer. I hope to start Odd One Out by Nic Stone.

PROGRESS ON MY READING GOALS

#MustReadIn2018 1/25

#MustReadNFIn2018 1/12

25 Books by Canadian Indigenous Authors 0/25

25 books by Canadian Authors 3/25

Goodreads Reading Challenge 8/333