Giller Prize Winner

Happy Halloween.

Yesterday the winner of the Scotiabank Giller prize was announced. If you've never heard of it here is a brief description from their website.

The Scotiabank Giller Prize is Canada’s most distinguished literary prize, awarding $50,000 annually to the author of the best Canadian novel or short story collection published in English. Finalists on the shortlist receive $5,000. The award was established in 1994 by Toronto businessman Jack Rabinovitch in honour of his late wife, literary journalist Doris Giller.

In September 2005, Scotiabank was proud to become the first ever co-sponsor of the prize – and it has been known as the Scotiabank Giller Prize ever since

This years winner is Will Ferguson, author of 419. Amazon gives the novel the below description.

From internationally bestselling travel writer Will Ferguson, author of Happiness™ and Spanish Fly, comes a novel both epic in its sweep and intimate in its portrayal of human endurance. A car tumbles through darkness down a snowy ravine. A woman without a name walks out of a dust storm in sub-Saharan Africa. And in the seething heat of Lagos City, a criminal cartel scours the Internet, looking for victims.

Lives intersect. Worlds collide. And it all begins with a single email: “Dear Sir, I am the daughter of a Nigerian diplomat, and I need your help…”

Will Ferguson takes readers deep into the labyrinth of lies that is 419, the world’s most insidious Internet scam.

When Laura Curtis, a lonely editor in a cold northern city, discovers that her father has died because of one such swindle, she sets out to track down—and corner—her father’s killer. It is a dangerous game she’s playing, however, and the stakes are higher than she can ever imagine. Woven into Laura’s journey is a mysterious woman from the African Sahel with scars etched into her skin and a young man who finds himself caught up in a web of violence and deceit.

And running through it, a dying father’s final words: “You, I love.”

Europe Vacation

I cant believe its been three weeks since I last posted. It's not because I've forgotten to post or ran out of things to say, it is because I was on vacation in Europe for over a week! I had a great time there and the weather was so nice. I spent the last two days in Rome and would love to go back again. Three days there is not enough time to see everything; its such a beautiful city. Here are a few pictures from the trip I'd like to share. I also finished the book Outlander yesterday, so will be posting a review of it soon.

The white washed houses of Mykonos

A dome in St. Peters Basilica in Vatican City

The Colosseum

Inside the Colosseum

St. Mark's square in Venice

The Parthenon in Athens

The Arch of Constantine in Rome

Beautiful ceiling in the Vatican Museum

Site of the first modern Olympics in Athens

Live Chat on Goodreads with Ann Patchett

I blogged about the upcoming book by Ann Patchett on the weekend named State of Wonder. You can read the description of the book here.

Next week on May 16, 5PM E.T, Goodreads is having a live chat with her to discuss her new book. If you are interested to learn more about the author here is a link to the website, with the live video stream.

The Casual Vacancy - J.K Rowling's next book

J.K Rowling's new book will be for adults. There is no magical land here; it is a 'blackly comedy' surrounding the politics of a small town at war. Not a literal war, but one involving the people.

When Barry Fairweather dies unexpectedly in his early forties, the little town of Pagford is left in shock.

Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war.

Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils...Pagford is not what it first seems.

And the empty seat left by Barry on the parish council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations?

Like many people, I am curious what this book will offer. The magic that Harry Potter had, (it's popularity, not actual magic) was because of the unique and creative world that Rowling had created. Like Lord of the Rings, The Matrix, and Twilight she created a new world hidden behind our own. There were new creatures to meet, rules to discover, something beyond our everyday.

It is not that our world does not have mystery and suspense to uncover, but Rowling is obviously very creative with a large imagination, and I am excited to see how it will reveal itself in this work. I am expecting in depth characters, and an engaging storyline with several unexpected twists.

Mark your calendars for September 27th to pick up The Casual Vacancy... well, maybe September 28th if you don't want to stand in line.

Read an E-book

 

Nook

ICDL Children

Canada has declared March Read an e-book Month. Being half way through March I am a little late with this announcement, but you still have time to buy a book and finish it by the end of the month. Even if you don't have a e-reader you can read one on your iPhone or android using a number of different apps.

This change was brought forth because the government felt it should be known that e-books provide a new industry for authors and publishers to make their books more widely available. They provide many advantages including being an enviromentaly friendly alternative.

Even if you are not Canadian or don't have an e-reader, I encourage you to at try reading an e-book once, and see if you enjoy the experience like I do. Here are some useful apps to help you.



Kobo



Kindle

Mexico Vacation

Mexico !!

Sorry I haven't posted in a week. I was on vacation in Mexico so I didn't get a chance to go on the computer. I have some great pictures to share. While I was there I spent some time by the pool reading. Unfortunately no tan came from it but I did finish the book I was reading, so a review of The Birth House will be coming soon.

I loved the palm trees there. We don't have any here at home so when I do see them (last year in L.A was my first time) I want to take lots of picture.

Besides visiting the pyramid at Chichen Itza above, we also stopped by a water hole for a swim. This cave was a nice place for a cold swim. It was a really hot day so the water was refreshing.

Not only was the food amazing, I ate sooo much, but it was arranged really beautifully. I cant imagine how they did this. There was a new carved watermelon everyday at breakfast too.

My Favourite Romance Novels

These are my favourite romance novels, at least the ones that I can think of now. I read a lot of Nora Roberts when I was in high school, and liked most of her books, but I didn't want to fill this list with all one author. A little diversity is good so I just added two that I liked the most.   

A science fiction love story. You wouldn't expect that from Nora Roberts, but it's true. I loved this book.  A mystery man appears in her life out of no where and she has to take care of him all alone in a remote cottage. Two people alone together, and one needs the help of the other is a perfect situation for a romance to develop, and this one has an added twist, because something is just not right about this guy.

I know everyone is tired of hearing about this romance book. I avoided reading them for a while but couldn't ignore all the hype, then it turned out that I really liked them. This one is a lot like Romeo and Juliette, which I think makes it a great modern read for Valentine's Day.

I'm reading Jane Austen right now so I have to add this to the list. No list is complete without a good classic. At first I wasn't impressed with this story, I liked Emma better, but the characters grow on you over time. Watching the movie helped too.

I like books where the two objects of affection are opposites; I think it makes it even more romantic. The cool kid and the nerd is even more romantic because I can wish that when I was in high school I had the chance to date the cool guy. The thought that you will be loved even when you are gone makes this book one of the most romantic stories I've read.

The job that I fantasize about but will never have is a thief. Its the mystery and suspense that appeal to me, and it sounds exciting. This story involves two people who grew up together and then fall in love.  They are jewelry thiefs and magicians, doesn't that sounds cool.

Saving the best for last. This was the first book that made me really cry. I still consider it my favourite book ever. It had everything you want in a good love story; adventure, romance, risk, tears, love, and of course a happy ending.

Happy New Year

Cheers everyone!

I never make new year resolutions. They work well for a month or more, but then your ambition wear off as real life sets in after the holidays are over and the excitement over the new year fades. I think if you really want to get something done you shouldn't need the changing of the calender to motivate you.

Despite that, this year I have given myself a challenge; I want to read 40 books in 2012. That almost doubles my average last year of 2 books a month. I don't think I will meet this challenge, but unlike failing a diet I wont get depressed and undo all my hard work by eating a box of cookies. It's just something to work towards and no matter what I will achieve something.  This is something I do anyways, so no stress.

I already have a pile of books stacking up to read. I have Robopocalypse, Five People you meet in Heaven, Hotel Vendome, The Birth House, and 77 Shadow Street. That is real range of genres: Science Fiction, Drama, Romance, and Suspense. Sounds like fun!

Christmas Presents for Book Lovers

Have any book lovers on your list that you haven't got a present for yet? Here are some of my picks for Christmas presents.

$40 at Chapters

This is a cute cover from Chapters for a Kobo cover. It's made by Roots so the envelope is made from leather. This would make by e-reader really chic.

$20 at Amazon

I think this scarf from Bench would be nice to read with. It has pockets at the bottom. I would but my bookmark or cover from above in the pockets so I wouldn't loose them.

$8.97 at Barnes and Noble

I liked to have a book light for my e-reader, but these ones are cool too. Especially for in the car during long drives visiting family.

$48.47 at PB teen

These bookends are so cute. There were other ones I liked that said Read Books but they aren't available anymore :(

Don't Burn Books

I heard an interesting bit of news the other day, ironically Ray Bradbury's novel Fahrenheit 451 has now been released in e-book format. Why is this ironic? Because Bradbury's story was about a future world where books had been banned in the U.S and firefighters job was to burn them. Hence the title Fahrenheit 451: the temperature in which books burn.

I read this book in high school and loved it. I was already a science fiction fan, so a story that took place in the future was appealing to me. I always enjoyed science fiction because the stories always made me think. The authors create a unique world and use their imagination to teach a lesson to the readers. Sometimes its easier to learn a lesson when its location isn't so close to home.

*Slight spoiler if you haven't read the book*

It's been a while since I read it, but what I do remember was that the main character was a firefighter, but in this future his job was to burn books. If anyone was found with books in their house the books were torched and the person arrested. It was decided by a small group of people that it was up to them to preserve the written world by memorizing a book each.

*Ok, it's safe to read again*

So naturally Bradbury was upset when the offer came to renew his contract and update it to include e-book rights. I can understand why he would be reluctant to agree to this. To him the very thing he was frightened of is coming true, his book, (about the destruction of books) is now being put into an electronic format. It is no longer a physical thing but an invisible file. He is afraid that the written word is being lost. Yet at the same time I think he made the right decision in allowing his book to be put into this format. After all, he wants the written word to be preserved, and despite his aversion to technology, it is where the world his headed. If he wants his story to be read and continue to pass on his message, he needs to move with the times and make it available in a format that will reach the highest readership.

It is a shame that he is so against the thought of an e-book, but it is the story that is important and not the method in which it is delivered to the readers.

A Very Long Read

I might not be posting my next book review for a while. I picked up the 1Q84 e-book last week and started reading it. So far I am enjoying it, I read it on and off the whole day on Monday. Then on my way home I checked the status and I had only read 2% of the book! That was my first clue that this was a large novel. My second clue was last night when I went to the book store and saw the large hardcover, 944 page book in very small print. This may take a while..

In the meantime, while I slowly make my way through this thick book, I will try to keep you updated on new releases and any anything I find interesting in the world of books.

I'm glad I got the e-book version, I not sure if I could carry my purse with that brick in it. (I mean that in the nicest way of course)

Giller Prize Winner

The Scotiabank Giller Prize winner was announced yesterday.  Esi Edugyan won $50,000 for her novel Half-Blood Blues. The book is about a Jazz musician haunted by the memory of his friend, who disappeared from Germany in the 1940's.

NaNoWriMo (This is not a typo)

Have you heard of Movember? It has become more popular in the last couple years. During the month of November clean shaven men grow beards or mustaches to raise money in support of men's health issues, number one being prostate cancer. 176 Million has been raised world wide since 2003. Visit the website here, there is still time to stop shaving.

I admit, that was just thrown in there because I think it's a good cause. This is my real reason for this post.

Did you know November is also NaNoWriMo. Yes, I also noticed that is a very bad acronym. It stands for National Novel Writing Month. The goal of NaNoWriMo is to write a 50,000 word novel by November 30. At first that sounds crazy, writing a book in a month. The idea is to give everyday people the chance to write the book they always wanted to. Having only a month is a lot less intimidating then the usual time it takes to complete such an endeavor.

You don't have to complete a fully edited book, just put all your ideas to paper and finish a story. The challenge is 50,000 words, there is no requirement for quality. When the time is up, who knows, you might have created the idea for the next best-selling novel.

Do you need encouragement? Perhaps this will help. have you heard of the recent best-sellers Water for Elephants and The Night Circus? Both those books were written during NaNoWriMo. So even if your initial attempt is a badly written draft, that doesn't mean you cant revise it later. This may be just the push you need to get started on the next best-seller.

Interested? Visit the website for more information.

One Shot: The Movie

Lee Child's book One Shot is becoming a movie staring Tom Cruise. I have this book on my book shelf, I bought it over 8 years ago and have to admit that is one of the only books I never managed to finish. I found it that boring. So I am surprised that they are making a movie of it. Maybe I didn't give it a good chance at the time, but I usually am very strict with my self about finishing every book that I start.

In an article I read on Word & Film Lee Child is quoted with saying that the movie is not going to be like the book. (Which I think is a good thing, I might actually see it now) So I don't take his words out of context Ill give you the whole quote. It was in response to people complaining about the lead being given to Tom Cruise.

"Obviously, Tom Cruise doesn't match the physical description of Reacher in the books... but the movie is not going to match the book anyway. If you look at what McQuarrie and Cruise have done before, I think this Reacher will be more clinical - the scalpel rather than the sledgehammer. What people forget is that Tom Cruise is quite possible the best actor of his generation."

Now remember that wasn't me who said Tom Cruise was the best actor, it was Lee Child. I like the Mission Impossible movies but wouldn't got that far.

Did anyone else read One Shot? If so, did you like it?

The Man Booker Prize Winner is....

The Man Booker prize winner has been announced! The winner? The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes.

Here a short description of the book.

Tony and his friends first met Adrian Finn when they were in school. They went through adolescence together trading jokes. Adrian was a little more serious then them, but they promised to stay friends. When something tragic happened in Adrian's life, Tony and his friends became distant and moved on with their lives trying to forget it.

Several years later Tony is divorced with a daughter. He gets along well with his ex. But one day Tony gets a letter from a lawyer that proves our memory of the past is imperfect.

On Vacation

Im on holidays this week so wont post as much. If I meet any famous people while here in Hollywood I'll let you all know!

Random House Giveaway

If you live in Canada and you want to read The Night Circus, (I'm almost done and it's a good read) you should head over to Random House and enter their contest to win a signed copy.

Just follow the link below. The contest ends October 19th. Good Luck

http://www.booklounge.ca/features/contests/index.html

Scotiabank Giller Prize Short List

While we are waiting for the results of the Man Booker Prize, (they come out Oct 18th!)  we can look over the just released short list for the Giller Prize.

The Giller prize is for the best Canadian novel, published in English, across the country - sorry Quebec. Two of the books may look familiar. Both The Sister Brothers and Half Blood Blues were on the Man Booker short list.

Here is a link to Toronto Life Magazine, which gives a brief description of all the books. The winner will be announced November 8. Did I mention the prize was $50,000? Good luck to all the authors.

Banned Books

It's banned book week until October 1.

Personally I have never understood the want to ban books.  With movies like the Saw series, and video games with blood and gore where opponents are blowing off each other's head, how are written words more harmful?

But you constantly hear of parents who want to limit what they children read in school, because they don't agree with the opinions or feel they are too graphic. The too sexual complaint is what gets me the most considering you cant change the channel on TV without seeing women wearing a sexy outfit (have you seen what those gossip girls wear?) and sexual jokes and references.

 I think reading controversial books in school is a good idea. That way the children can be involved in an open conversation about why the ideas in the book might be wrong, and what their feelings are about them.  We can not shelter our children from racism and grown-up themes, they will come across them sometime in their life and I would prefer it be in an atmosphere where it can be explained. If a book has inappropriate language, then give a history of that time and why the word was used. We can not learn from our past if we ignore it.

Being exposed to controversial issues is not the same as condoning them. These things exist and we must all learn to deal with them rationally. If you don't agree with them, explain it to your children why you think it is wrong, and then let them make their own choices. 

It is not okay that some people feel they can force their ideals onto others. If you don't like it, fine, but that doesn't mean you can stop my children from reading them. Personally, I read a lot of these books in my high school English class.

Jackie Collins Live Chat and Book Signings

Jackie Collins, who is known for her racy novels, is participating in a live video chat on goodreads. The chat takes place on September 20th at 8pm Eastern/5pm Pacific. It looks like you have to be a member of the website to ask questions, but I was able to load the page with the video file without signing in. Perhaps without a log in you can watch the chat but not ask questions? Either way its a free sign-up, and a pretty cool website if your into books.

Collins new book is called Goddess of Vengeance. Its stars one of her previous characters, Lucky Santangelo, but is not meant to be a sequel so you can read it if you haven't read any of her books before.  This is a book full of lust, greed, and family. Lucky is a rich powerful women whose current project is a resort in Las Vegas. There are a few intertwining story lines in this book. One centers around her spoiled daughter Max, who is turning 18 and wants to move to New York. The main story is about Armand Jordan, an Arab prince raised in New York who wants to buy Lucky's resort The Keys. What he doesn't expect is Lucky who has no intention of selling her resort. This book should be great if you love to read about the worlds of wealth and fame.

If you want to see her live instead, she is doing a book signing in Nashville at Dillard's Department store on September 17. She speaks from 1:30 - 2, and is signing books from 2 - 3.

She is also in Los Angeles at Barnes and Noble at the Grove at 7pm.