Category Archives: review
5/5 for book about Nikola Tesla
Jeanne C gives Away from the Dead a 5/5
Title: Away From the Dead
Author: David Bergen
Bergen crafted a novel based on accounts written by two very different sources, a Mennonite farmer who immigrated from Ukraine to Canada and a Russian writer of this time period. The book is loosely based on the lives of several generations of family members who were affected by the events of the Russian Revolution and whose surviving members came to live in Canada in the 1920’s. I enjoyed the author’s simple prose and thoughtful character development. The family members, with their fears and faults, kept me reading to learn how their lives would unfold.
Marion’s plea for a better selection of large print books
Like all of us book club members, Marion W is a smart and avid reader but she’s noticed that the selection of library books available in large print may be good for some avid readers, but not so great for discerning readers. She held up this book and said with frustration, “I don’t recommend this one. Too Harlequinesque.” Are large print readers doomed to read mediocre fiction? One hopes not.
The Pull of Stars by Emma Donaghue — 5/5
Symposium Cafe is the perfect place for bookish lunches
Our book group has been meeting over lunch-brunch at Brantford’s Symposium Cafe ever since we ventured out for post-pandemic non-zoom gatherings. Always, the service is stellar and always the food is beautifully presented, tasty and not too expensive. The staff at Symposium never rush us out and they are so very pleasant and friendly. This is Annette. Her smile says it all!
Enjoying the artwork on the plywood patch bridge.
The 9:30am walkers decided to walk over the plywood patch bridge on the Dike Trail to enjoy the artwork. It was a glorious day to do that and it was also great to see the improvements that have been made on the trails.
Season’s celebration at the Golden Teapot, Glenhyrst
The Golden Teapot is a wonderful place to gather with friends for good food and great conversation.
Thursday night’s reading of The Maid by Nita Prose
The Thursday night Reading group read The Maid by Nita Prose, a Canadian mystery writer in Toronto.
“I am your maid. I am the one who cleans your hotel room, who enters like a phantom when you are out gallivanting for the day, no care at all for what you left behind the mess or what I might see when you are gone.” Molly maid, Regency Grand Hotel.
What if, what’s left behind is a dead body? What follows are the twists and turns of a murder mystery. Within the group of possibilities group of possibilities are an unhappy family and the staff of the Regency — not the least is Molly herself who discovers the dead body. This is a delightful mystery full of interesting characters, relationships of staff and guests in a big hotel and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing right to the end. Both Thursday night groups enjoyed the book which led to a lively discussion.
The Mystery Guest (Molly the Maid #2) — very good!
5/5 stars from Marsha S!
So nice to have dear Molly the maid back to solve a new murder at the Grand Hotel. Molly’s unique way of looking at the world is her blessing and curse and readers can’t help but root for her as she overturns tropes (the maid did it …. she’s just a maid … she’s not very bright) as quickly as she can make a bed. The characters in this novel are deliciously Dickensian and the key to the murder is in Molly’s childhood. Satisfying and cozy. This mystery is the perfect companion to a warm fire and a good cup of tea.
