Winter Song

Yes - Christmas and holiday goodness is right around the corner. But for some, many actually, life's situations don't lead them to a holly jolly, coloured tights wearing, egg nogg drinking, night of festivities. For all of those needing a pick-me-up over the holidays (and that dreaded in between period after the holidays are over and before the first specks of green start making their appearance) here is something to calm the soul and warm the heart.

Nothing Stale About It.

Why not add a little spice to your much loved collection. Some of these options are pricey and hard to come by and others the opposite. Either way they provide some fantastic ideas to starting a funky holding place for those other smaller 'things' that inspire so much imagination to begin with.

Banned Books

Banned books week 2010 recently concluded and was held between September 25th to October 2nd. Banned books week 2011 will be held September 24th to October 1st.

According to the American Library Association "Observed since 1982, the annual event reminds Americans not to take this precious democratic freedom for granted. Banned Books Week (BBW) celebrates the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one's opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them. After all, intellectual freedom can only exist where these two essential conditions are met".

Far from just another week or just another event. The ability to read and educate is what drives humanity forward creating positive change and awareness on a global scale. Entertainment factor aside it is our ability to learn and grow that creates sustainability and freedom for the generations to come.

Get into it.

(Plus you would be amazed to see what favourites of YOURS have been banned at some point by governments, libraries, and school boards alike).

Places to have and to hold.

The Hunger Games

"May the odds ever be in your favor." (The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins)

I have always held a special place in my heart for the young adult novel. The imaginative landscapes held within are often hard to find in the adult world of fiction. Authors such as Haruki Murakami and specifically his novel "Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World" are surprisingly and disappointingly sparse despite their wondrously unique world of creation.

That is why I am especially thankful when a book such as "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins slides its way neatly into my bookshelf. I am even more thankful when I find out after two nail-biting days of consumption that this book is actually the first of three.

"The Hunger Games" is a novel set in the far future when natural disasters have reclaimed much of the land forcing those not taken by starvation and disease to rely on and submit to a harsh and controlling Capitol. This Capitol in the land of Panem, formerly North America, rules twelve remaining districts. In an effort to impose fear and ultimately submission on the people the Capitol organizes an annual event wherein one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 from each district meet in an arena in a fight to the death broadcast in a horrific sporting tirade on live television. Only one victor remains each year as parents are forced to not only watch but cheer as their loved ones hunt and are hunted by the other "tributes". Katniss, the protagonist of this novel, appalled by what the games hold, volunteers in an unprecedented show of love and affection to take her little sisters place when her name is called. From this point on, the games begin.

In a "Lord of the Flies" meets "Gladiator" sort of way this novel depicts a landscape where those wishing to fight are kept silent and weak through starvation and constant fear. A little girl becomes what could be a glimmer of hope in a world where humanity is cast aside for brutality and furthermore depicted as sparkly entertainment.

I absolutely loved this book. Now if you will excuse me I'm off to start the second in the series.....

Little Bee

"From my country you have taken its future, and to my country you have sent the objects from your past. We do not have the seed, we have the husk. We do not have the spirit, we have the skull." ("Little Bee" formerly titled "The Other Hand" by Chris Cleave)

I had this novel passed on to me well over a year ago by a friend of a friend who had recently finished it herself. There is something so unique about taking a book previously loved right from someone's hand. There is no crack of the spine when it is opened for the first time and the pages have become soft and comfortable to the touch. Almost like an aged glass of wine ready to be consumed.

This book was definitely unforgettable. The novel begins one fateful day on a Nigerian beach when two European tourists attempting to enjoy the sunshine and a beverage are thrust into an unknown world where they are forced to make a life altering decision that will ultimately unravel and challenge their relationship, family, and inner belief in humanity. The little girl that is the centre of that decision becomes a mirror of who they thought they were, who they are, and who they will ultimately become. Through the horror and injustice that ensues that girl (Little Bee) becomes a beacon of light providing strength, laughter and love to a broken family.

While many aspects of this book were memorable I would argue that the hype surrounding the second wave release is slightly over the top. This is a beautiful book but is it the new classic that everyone should be talking about? In my opinion other works such as "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver, "July's People" by Nadine Gordimer, and "Disgrace" by J.M. Coetzee provide a much higher level of prose while entwined with a beautiful African narrative.

Then again not all readers are looking for the same thing and if you have never read a novel about Africa and the equally powerful horror and beauty contained within then this is a great place to start.

Water for Elephants

Engrossing, astounding and at times disturbingly startling. This novel takes its reader into the captivating world of circus life in the 1930's. When the protagonist Jacob encounters a tragic loss, he leaves his ivy league vet training early to hop a train into a life filled with misfits and beauties. When he falls in love with Marlena, the show's star performer and wife of the horrifically abusive and psychotic animal trainer, he finds himself silently suffocating in a world where compassion is cast aside.

This was an incredible read and an even more impressive literary feat. The research performed by Sara Gruen in order to be able to demonstrate the world and timeframe in which Jacob finds himself is so vivid that you smell the cotton candy, hear the horses stomping and see every little wrinkle and hair on Rosie's (the elephant) skin.

Not for the faint of heart as some of the animal encounters are difficult to read but should you be searching for a historical read with a glimpse into a different time and way of life while intertwined with a unique and beautiful story-line this is the book for you.

The Road

The Road by Cormac McCarthy tells of a post-apocalyptic world where father and son fight not only for survival but for a glimmer of hope. Set amidst a landscape seemingly devoid of all compassion, structure, sustenance, and humanity the two struggle along while leaning on, and at times held up by, the bond that they share.

While McCarthy's work is a quick and simple read, the setting descriptions and continual pull at the heart-strings keep the reader interested and hopeful. In a world where all is lost, the indistinguishable love between father and son casts a flickering ray of light across a barren and horrific backdrop.

For the Love

"A loveless world is a dead world, and always there comes an hour when one is weary of prisons, of one's work, and of devotion to duty, and all one craves for is a loved face, the warmth and wonder of a loving heart." Albert Camus

A Great Wake-Up Call

Get into it.

I woke up lazily today at around 7:25am to my phone ringing off the hook.... "Get your ass out of bed and walk down the street" was the message when I finally answered. I am so glad I got that call. I'm also glad that I was randomly working from home (and not 5 minutes from my office cubicle which I would have been normally).

When I got my ass in gear (randomly in a pair of white track pants and a bright red hoodie) and got to the end of my street I was greeted by thousands of people dressed in white and red waving Canadian flags and cheering as loudly as they could. May I remind you that this was well before 8:00am.

I grabbed a coffee and stood at the side of the road like everyone else and watched as the madness ensued. First there were the sponsors giving away free canadian flags and 'swag' followed by the RCMP and then lastly the torch. Well not quite last. The torch came and then 200 or so people running behind the torch to keep up. It honestly brought a tear to my eye and tightened my throat.

I am one of those easily caught up in the ever increasing debates: 'are the Olympics good for a province or are they not so good', 'is the debt worth the re-structuring of the city or would the money be better spent on the most poor postal code in North America (East Side Vancouver)'.

Whatever side one ends up taking, its undeniable the power and excitement that comes with national pride and a symbol of hope. The news has been littered over the last few years with natural disasters and economic turmoil. The Olympics may have been created originally (way back when in Greece) as a deterrent to political strife but what if for a moment it is actually worthwhile for people to forget. For people to come together as one nation, as one world and celebrate humanity as a whole.

This morning was a breath of fresh air and I truly hope all of you get a glimpse of what these games mean to this country, just as I did.

Into the Wild

"There was another irony he failed to appreciate: His struggle to mold me in his image had been successful after all. The old walrus in fact managed to instill in me a great and burning ambition; it had simply found expression in an unintended pursuit."

Jon Krakauer - Into the Wild

Beautifully put and ringing true. A line I paused on for quite some time.

No I haven't seen the movie. Typically I don't. I read more than I watch - it's not a new age yuppie statement it just 'is what it is'. I have almost finished the book and Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer truly is an inspirational and fascinating read.

I am more of a fiction lover myself. I find nothing to be more enjoyable than the experience of running away with a character and a story written by a talented author. Quite often I find non-fiction to be missing one of these key components. In my opinion non-fiction works are quite often a beautiful or heart-wrenching story lacking the artful pen that brings them to life so to speak.

Jon Krakauer proves to be a wonderful exception to this personal belief. He is a powerful author who has not only done justice to the individual and subsequent story he has captured in print, but has become the potential voice for an entire generation. The true story of Chris McCandless (pictured above), the 24 year old American who died on an Alaskan wilderness break from civilization, is the story of a disturbed yet idealistically charged individual set upon a course that no friend, family member, or foe could break.

Some believe (most actually) that Chris McCandless was a desolate and stubborn individual set on his own demise. Others think McCandless was a tragic young man simply lost in his own thoughts. While both of these beliefs may have an aspect of reality to them, it was McCandless' undeniable passion that created an air of infatuation around his tale. He was highly educated and very well read (the book is littered with quotes from famous literary texts found scrawled into the sides of the bus where his remains were found).

Chris McCandless was, while young and naiive, an inspiration. He was a passionate young man representative of a generation unafraid to believe in something. No longer numbed by the sparkly promise of material consumption, power, and wealth. I believe there will be more like McCandless to come. Maybe not those who march into the middle of Alaska ill-equipped for the harsh realities of mother nature - but those equally ready to reject all that has become our modern day and age - or more appropriately dubbed - 'normal' living.