#IMWAYR July 1, 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.

Hurrah for summer vacation!
Here in Canada, July 1st is Canada Day, so Happy Canada Day to everyone! My partner, Randy, and I are in our house in Oliver, BC. The weather isn't as hot as we expected, so Randy is getting some work done while I focus on resting, relaxing and reading. I've managed a bit of writing too.

Clinking on the title will take you to the Goodreads page for that book. 

RECENT BLOG POSTS

Poetry Friday June 28, 2019

PICTURE BOOKS

5 stars

Hope by Matthew Cordell

This book is just beautiful. As a grandparent, it gave me all the feels.
I planned on reading it to a group of kindergarteners. Before starting it, I asked them what they hoped for. After I finally just asked those who hoped for Pokemon cards to put up their hands, we got on to other hopes. I was honoured by their big wishes for the world, their families and each other. They might be little, but they are a force to be reckoned with. We never did get to the book.

NOVELS

4 stars

The Case of Windy Lake by Michael Hutchinson

The Mighty Muskrats are a group of four indigenous cousins who live on their reserve and solve mysteries. In this first novel they are trying to figure out what happened to a missing archaeologist.
What jumped out at me was the profound respect these children show towards their elders, as well as how those same elders are there for them.
There is much to adore about this beginning series. The cousins end up solving this case through a combination of internet research and knowledge learned from these elders.
I appreciated that the the conflict between corporate interests and the people's claims over their land and resources are addressed in a complex, yet positive way that embeds indigenous learning and ways of knowing.
I'll be looking forward to the next in the series!
Michael Hutchinson is Indigenous Canadian, 

4 stars

Artificial Condition by Martha Wells

This book wasn't as stunning as the first, because it wasn't all gloriously new. I am still hooked on this series though. Murderbot is a fabulous character. I can hardly wait to read the next one, Rogue Protocol!

4 stars

Shouting at the Rain by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

I finished this book in one sitting (well almost anyway.) I resented the time I had to take away from it to set the table.
This is a story of how it takes a community to raise a child. I loved these authentic characters! Delsie has some solid friends in her small vacation town. When her summer friend, Brandy, takes up with a mean girl, Delsie has to learn how to let go of that relationship. Thankfully, she connects with Ronan, a young boy new to the area. I appreciate how her friendship with Ronan evolves and that the two of them are able to help each other. I adore Delsie's Grammy. Her wisdom is the kind all elders should have.

Some authors write books with chapters that leave you hanging on a cliff edge, desperate to read more. Lynda Mullaly Hunt's chapters end with universal truths, leaving the reader pondering life's big ideas. They also make you ravenous for more.

NONFICTION

I've been reading a lot of logging history for a memoir I'm working on. It's been fascinating. The best part is reading the stories of the different individuals. I'm not done with these yet, but here's what I'm exploring a lot of these days.

More Deadly Than War: Pacific Coast Logging 1827 - 1981 by Andrew Mason Prouty
It's full of stories of hardship and disaster. In the middle of it I found some unexpected poetry.

First Growth: The story of British Columbia Forest Products Limited by Sue Baptie

Tie Hackers to Timber Harvesters: The History of Logging in BC's Interior by Ken Drushka

CURRENTLY

I am still listening to Archenemies (Renegades #2) by Marissa Meyer. I'm finding the romance makes the book drag for me. I'm reading The Hunting Accident: A True Story of Crime by David L. Carlson.

UP NEXT

Before we return home, I'm hoping to finish The Benefits of Being An Octopus by Ann Braden and DreadfulWater Shows Up by Thomas King (writing as Hartley GoodWeather).

I finally figured out how to get Netgalley books downloaded onto my iPad so I plan to get to at least one of those this coming week.

PROGRESS ON MY READING GOALS

#MustReadIn2018 13/25

#MustReadNFIn2018 8/12 1 in progress

25 Books by Canadian Indigenous Authors 15/25

25 books by Canadian Authors 31/25

Big Book Reading Challenge 2/4 2 in progress

Goodreads Reading Challenge 210/333