#IMWAYR December 5, 2022

Welcome! It's #IMWAYR time again, when bloggers share what they have been reading and find out what others have been up to. 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. These are fabulous places to start your search for what to read next.

I have been sick. I hate being sick. 

I ended up with influenza. That morphed into a secondary bacterial infection in my lungs. It's been about a month, and even after a mess of prednisone, my asthma is still out of control. 

I hate being sick, but I'm starting to feel human again. 

I have a specialist appointment in Vancouver, BC on Monday. We will be staying with friends so I will just post this whenever I get a chance and link up as connections become available. 

I will start reading your posts as soon as I get home on Tuesday. 

Titles with a 🍁 indicate this is a Canadian or Indigenous Canadian Author and or Illustrator.

Clicking on the title will take you to the Goodreads page of the book.

MG NOVELS

4 stars

Butt Sandwich & Tree by Wesley King August 23, 2022 🍁

This is a book with a lot of heart. It's the story of two brothers. Cedar, the eldest, is a basketball star, and hopes to garner TikTok fame with his home movies. His younger brother, Green, is neurodivergent and pretty much happy with his life as it is. Cedar is sure that Green can make the basketball team, become popular, and have a normal life. Green agrees to try out. After a debacle on the practise court, Green leaves early. When the coach realizes his dead wife's wedding ring is missing, he accuses Green of stealing it. Everyone at the school believes it. Cedar is sure Coach is wrong and he and Green become detectives to find out who really took it. Along the way they come to understand other students and staff, Green makes his first friend, and they even drag their Opa along on a stakeout.
What's really obvious in this book is that these two brothers love each other. It's also clear that they are just right being who they are.
While reading this I couldn't help but wonder if these two brothers will solve any more mysteries.
In the back matter King talks about how the story is based on his younger brother, who, now an adult, is doing just fine. He also discusses the diagnostic term Aspergers. It's no longer used in the USA because of Hans Asperger's work with the NAZI's, but unfortunately, is still used here in Canada.

 

MG GRAPHIC NOVELS

4 stars

Enemies (Berrybrook Middle School #4) by Svetlana Chmakova September 27, 2022 🍁

This might not be my favourite, but I really like this series.
In this one we see two girls trying to come up with a viable business plan in order to win a contest. As with the other books, the characters have much to learn about themselves and others. In the end, the winning or losing is secondary.

YA & ADULT FICTION

4 stars

Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures by Vincent Lam September 26, 2006 🍁

This collection of short stories focus around a group of medical students, Fitz, Ming, Chen, and Sri, and follows them once they are doctors. It's brilliant look into the profession. It's full of romance, plenty of dark humour, and a few terrifying moments.

 

LANE WINSLOW SERIES by by Iona Whishaw & Marilla Wex (Narrator) 🍁 4 stars average

#2 Death in a Darkening Mist April 11, 1917 🍁

I really appreciated learning more about the Doukhobor history of the Kootenays. I wish there was more explicit details about how their successful way of life was destroyed by the government. Unfortunately what we see here is the after effects of it.
I admit though that I am getting tired of the conflicted romantic relationship.

#3 An Old, Cold Grave September 26 2017 🍁

I am addicted to this series. I love the integration of Canadian history and place. I'm thankful to see something positive come out of the romantic piece.
Marilla Wex does a brilliant job as narrator.

#4 It Begins In Betrayal April 10, 2018 🍁 

This was a great read. Readers are returned to England where Inspector Darling has been framed for murder. Lane is ready to do almost anything to get him released. At the same time, Ames is on his own to figure out who murdered an elderly woman.

5+ stars

The Stone Sky (The Broken Earth, #3) by N.K. Jemisin & Robin Miles (Narrator) August 15, 2017

This was as brilliant an ending to this trilogy as could be imagined. I would give it more stars if I could.
I'm not sure I can ever read fantasy again after finishing this book. I  suspect nothing will compare. It's the holy grail of fantasy writing. It might just be the pinnacle of all writing. 

ADULT & YA GRAPHIC NOVELS

5 stars

Ducks by Kate Beaton September 13, 2022 🍁

Kate Beaton is brilliant. When I finally sat down to read this, I didn't stop till it was done. This memoir spans the years she spent working in Northern Alberta in the Oil Sands. Being one of the few women there made for emotionally exhausting and even traumatic experiences. 

ADULT NONFICTION

4 stars

Notes on Grief by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie May 11th 2021

This reminded me of Joan Didion's Year of Magical Thinking.
The raw pain of loss resonates equally. It took me back over three decades ago to the death of my own father and opened old wounds. It isn't full of global cultural and historical connections like Didion's is, but it does address the ones specific to Nigeria. 

CURRENTLY

Ghostlight by Kenneth Oppel September 6th 2022  🍁

As Long as the Rivers Flow by Larry Loyie, Constance Brissenden, & Heather D. Holmlund (Illustrator) 🍁

No Vacancy by Tziporah Cohen  🍁

A Green Velvet Secret by Vicki Grant  🍁

UP NEXT - MAYBE

Narwhalicorn and Jelly (A Narwhal and Jelly Book #7) by Ben Clanton

READING GOALS

#MustReadFiction 24/24 one in progress

#MustReadNonFiction 16/18

Canadian Authors 76/100 four in progress

Indigenous Authors 18/25 one in progress

Goodreads Reading Challenge: 266/250

2022 Big Book Summer Challenge 7

Canada Reads shortlist 5/5