canadianfiction

Do Not Say We Have Nothing | Madeleine Thien

so-so

3.5⭐️ Felt that some sections were way too long and could have been easily made into another chapter; wish that there was a character list that I could refer to as I wasn‘t too sure of all the relationships that the characters had with each other. I can see why it was shortlisted for the #bookerprize & won the #gillerprize and the #governorgeneral in 2016

#2025 #fiction #china #historicalfiction #bookclub

melissajayne #literaryfiction #canadianfiction 6d

melissajayne Giller Prize: https://gillerprize.ca 6d

melissajayne Governor General‘s Literary Awards: https://ggbooks.ca/about (edited) 6d

27 likes3 comments

shawnmooney

Cool Water | Dianne Warren

https://youtu.be/muA0hpZg7-k

#Victober

Intro

Mystery guest

Weekly highlights

Dominion by Addie E. Citchens

Mr. Wrong by Elizabeth Jane Howard

Emma by Jane Austen

Cool Water by Dianne Warren

Clarissa, or, the History of a Young Lady by Samuel Richardson

Blurred Faces by Allan Radcliffe

Gaza Weddings by Ibrahim Nasrallah

Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell

Above Us the Sea by Ania Card

Full House by M.J. Farrell

21 likes

kwmg40

In My Own Moccasins: A Memoir of Resilience | Helen Knott

pick

A very hard-hitting and honest memoir, about the author's struggles with addiction and sexual abuse. Her resilience, leading to her recovery and ability to share her stories through her writing, is truly admirable.

#OhCanada @Jess861

Jess861 Glad you were able to read it! 3w

42 likes1 comment

lauraisntwilder

In My Own Moccasins: A Memoir of Resilience | Helen Knott

pick

I'm a little late for the #OhCanada discussion, but I didn't want to miss out on this book. It's hard to review a memoir, especially one with this much trauma, but I think Knott faced her trauma head on and framed her story well. I'm interested to see what her newer book is like.

Jess861 Glad you got a chance to read it! Memoirs are tough because they are experiences from the authors point of view. 3w

28 likes1 stack add1 comment

rubyslippersreads

Hetty Dorval | Ethel Wilson

I really enjoyed this. At first it seemed like the story of a young girl growing up on a ranch, with an almost idyllic life, but the detail about Ernestine‘s future revealed that the story was going to get darker. This is my first Ethel Wilson, but won‘t be my last.

Does anyone else think that Hetty would be able to get herself out of trouble in Austria, no matter how ominous the last lines? 😏

#PersephoneClub

andrew61 Yes, I agree, Hetty will definitely find someone else who falls for her charms. Great review. 1mo

Tamra @andrew61 agreed! 1mo

willaful Yup, she's a survivor. 1mo

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LeahBergen Haha! Yes, I bet Hetty figured something out. 1mo

rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen Maybe she heard that a captain with seven children was looking for a governess. 🤣 1mo

LeahBergen Good one!! 😂 1mo

46 likes6 comments

Jess861

In My Own Moccasins: A Memoir of Resilience | Helen Knott

This post contains spoilers

show me

What did you think of Helen Knott as a storyteller? Are there any others areas of her life that you'd enjoy reading about if she were to write another book? Would you like to see her diversify outside of memoirs if she chose too? General thoughts on the author?

Jess861 #OhCanada

@lauraisntwilder @KathyWheeler @Ruthiella @CarolynM @LapReader @kwmg40 @Readergrrl @JenlovesJT47 @Tamra @PurpleyPumpkin @Kitta @DogMomIrene @Blueberry @BiblioLitten @JuniperWilde @Teresereading @mcctrish 1mo

Jess861 Such a magnificent storyteller and so brave to be able to tell her story. I will read all books by her - she has a gift! 1mo

Ruthiella I think she could write a novel if she wanted to. I know some people (on Goodreads) had an issue with how she structured the memoir so only pieces of her story are doled out at a time, but I thought that was well done. 1mo

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Kitta I forgot to read this one. Whoops! 1mo

Jess861 @Kitta No worries - hope you get a chance to read it one day - it's a good one! 1mo

kwmg40 Knotts is a very good storyteller and I think she could succeed with a novel. I did read her newer book, Becoming a Matriarch, before I'd read this one, and in hindsight, it would have been better to read the books in the order in which they had been written. I found that, recalling Becoming a Matriarch, it seems to pale somewhat in comparison to In My Own Moccasins. 1mo

6 likes6 comments

Jess861

In My Own Moccasins: A Memoir of Resilience | Helen Knott

This post contains spoilers

show me

Our first memoir for the #OhCanada read and to me this book is such a powerful and impactful read. So many tough topics and to know that this isn't a work of fiction but a memoir. General thoughts on the book and anything you would like to discuss about the book? Did you enjoy it?

Jess861 @lauraisntwilder @KathyWheeler @Ruthiella @CarolynM @LapReader @kwmg40 @Readergrrl @JenlovesJT47 @Tamra @PurpleyPumpkin @Kitta @DogMomIrene @Blueberry @BiblioLitten @JuniperWilde @Teresereading @mcctrish 1mo

Jess861 To me, one of the many things I gained from this book - is a reminder that even when someone can seem like they have it all together they could still be struggling. Be kind! 1mo

Ruthiella I really appreciated Knott‘s honesty and courage. It was tough to read at times, but I am glad I did. And you are so right about people hiding their struggles. (edited) 1mo

kwmg40 This was a very tough read but the author's honesty and sincerity really came through. 1mo

8 likes4 comments

shawnmooney

Watching You Without Me | Lynn Coady

https://youtu.be/JRbIwLJEwUA?si=MQ0mjZvqr7Uuxjxu

Intro
Mystery guest
Week in review
Hunchback by Saou Ichikawa
The Whale Tattoo by Jon Ransom
You Better Be Lightning by Andrea Gibson
Watching You Without Me by Lynn Coady
Animal Person by Alexander MacLeod
Set My Hand Upon the Plough by E. M. Barraud
Lori & Joe by Amy Arnold
Cold Fish Soup by Adam Farrer
Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions by Omolola Ijeoma Ogunyemi
....

17 likes

Jess861

In My Own Moccasins: A Memoir of Resilience | Helen Knott

Beautiful day for some outside reading in the backyard. It is almost sweater weather today and probably will be this evening. Starting the reread of the #OhCanada book. Will post a discussion post on August 31st.

Tamra I am really not ready for sweater weather. I am always in a state of denial until I just can‘t be anymore. 😫 I actually turned on the furnace in the camper this week one morning. 2mo

Jess861 @Tamra I'm so ready for some cooler weather! It's been such a scorching hot summer so far here! I'm sure we have more insanely hot days ahead of us. Not sure if I'm ready to be turning on the furnace though, lol! (edited) 2mo

38 likes2 comments

Ruthiella

In My Own Moccasins: A Memoir of Resilience | Helen Knott

pick

#OffMyShelf - memoir
#OhCanada

“Healing isn‘t a freeing experience when you‘re in the middle of it. It feels like land mines are exploding and ripping your flesh apart. Everywhere you step is dangerous.”

Powerful and raw. Knott writes about her struggles with addiction and abuse as an indigenous Canadian. Reminded me also of “Tattoos on the Heart” with its appeal to withhold judgment.

Trigger warnings for drug use, sexual assault and abuse.

wanderinglynn, Jess861

Jess861 Glad you enjoyed it! 2mo

Ruthiella @Jess861 Definitely glad to read about her challenges and strength in surmounting them. 2mo

Suet624 Read this a number of years ago and really liked it. 2mo

See All 9 Comments

Ruthiella @Suet624 I remember. Jenny @ReadingEnvy also read it so it was definitely on my radar. 2mo

Suet624 Jenny. 😭❤️ 2mo

CarolynM Great review. I hope I‘ll get to this sometime, but probably not in time for the discussion ☹️ 2mo

Ruthiella @CarolynM That‘s the beauty of the internet. You can read the discussion and chime in later. 2mo

wanderinglynn What an powerful quote! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 2mo

Ruthiella @wanderinglynn It was a very honest book IMO. It must have been difficult for her to relive in order to write. 2mo

57 likes1 stack add9 comments

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