Voices of Time
by Eduardo Galeano
This book is going to take a lot of explaining - and even then I probably won’t get it right - so bear with me. I don’t even know what genre to call it. It is a book of vignettes, over three hundred of them, most less than a page long. They aim to explore and to illuminate life. Quite a challenge! I think when Galeano sees, hears, and thinks things he says, ‘That’s interesting, I’m going to make a note of that.’

Voices of Time shares his reflections with us. He tells us matters of fact: all life on earth derives from lichens; the first US marine to be killed in Iraq was an illegal immigrant. He teases us with fancy: a fly that killed a Pope; invisible friends. Many of his stories are a cri du coeur for honesty, justice, integrity, and peace. Some are funny, some are sad, a few have a purpose which I did not fathom, but at heart all the stories are true because they are about what it means to live, feel, hope, suffer, and enjoy. A book for people with a different taste, one that responds to the surreal, mystical, humourous, poignant, preposterous, chilling. By way of credentials, the Washington Post calls Galeano ‘one of South America’s most distinguished literary figures’.

The Pull of the Moon
by Elizabeth Berg
Nan, the protagonist in this novel, is having a serious attack of menopausal depression. She decides to take off in her car, destination unknown. But it’s always the journey that really matters isn’t it. As she drives aimlessly she writes two things every day; a letter to her husband Martin, and an entry in her journal. The book consists of those writings. This device could be simplistic, in this context even maudlin, but Berg handles it with skill, intelligence and feeling. A fairly quick read, at times quite moving. One thing I promise - there is a scene in a beauty parlour that you will love.

Fugitive Pieces
by Anne Michaels
In the old days, cartographers would write ‘Here be dragons’ to identify unexplored areas on a map. This novel should have that warning; it took me into unknown realms both demanding and rewarding. A deeply moving work, it is also intelligent with scholarly references to science, history and the arts. The plot concerns a boy who experiences the Holocaust and spends much of the rest of his life trying to deal with that horror. Arising out of the plot is the question of how we deal with pain, suffering and loss. At its most basic level, a metaphysical study. But don’t let that heavy word put you off. This is a thing of beauty, at times rhapsodic. Michaels is a poet, besotted by language which she serves to us like different flavours through the voices of her characters. And she gives us evocative imagery: ‘His death was quiet; rain on the sea.’ But best of all, she plumbs the human psyche and offers assurance that redemption lies in loving as we hope and need to be loved ourselves. Not a book to be rushed, its ideas cry out to be nurtured with time.

As a novel, Fugitive Pieces was published to great acclaim in 1996 and has come to renewed attention as a movie headlining the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival.

Intent for a Nation: What Canada is For
by Michael Byers
On Friday, Oct 26th, 2007, Tony Blair told an audience in Calgary, ‘Canada will be one of the most powerful nations in the world.’ Byers agrees that is possible, but only if we want it and seek it assertively. Intent for a Nation reviews the history and future options of the international issues affecting Canada today - peace keeping, international humanitarian law, North American defence, global warming, arctic sovereignty, North American economic union. A primer for any citizen who wants to gain a basic grasp of the fundamental issues, it is written in a personable and highly readable style. A must read for anyone who takes being Canadian seriously. Caveat: Byers’ personal views are left wing.

The Iambics of Newfoundland
by Robert Finch
Reading plays havoc with stereotypes. For example, ‘Americans know little of their own country and even less of their neighbour to the north’. For over fifteen years I have been travelling to Newfoundland with my wife who is native to the province; Robert Finch is a native of Cape Cod and knows more about Newfoundland than I ever will. ‘Iambics’ (the title makes sense when you read the first two pages) is a series of essays written after visits to the province. Part travelogue, stories about people, observations on culture, language, and politics, a little hunting, a little ‘wild life’, occasional touches of tragedy, and lots of scenery. A charming and intelligent book. If you plan to visit Newfoundland, read it for ideas; if you are not sure about going, read it to be certain; if you don’t plan to go, read it and change your mind.

October
byRichard Wright
I suppose there are as many ways to view life as there arepeople. We try to make sense of it according to our personality, beliefs, culture and times. James (not Jim), is a self confessed pedantic, retired university professor. He experiences the world as random and unexplainable and so he is often confused and hesitant in both his decisions and relationships. His daughter calls to say she has learned she has cancer. Visiting her he encounters a man whom he has not seen since they were teens vacationing in Quebec. He accompanies the man to Switzerland. The heart of the story is his attempt to address the deepest human question: Why are we here and what are we supposed to do about it? The voice Wright has chosen for his protagonist gives this wellwritten book a wonderful intimacy. A little challenging, but I could not put it down.

“Alien Invaders: Species that Threaten our World”.
We have come across a very interesting book written by two local authors, Jane Drake and Ann Love. Jane and Ann are sisters who have written several successful books with a Natural History or Environmental focus.

This particular book is about those foreign species that are wreaking havoc with local environments when introduced from elsewhere. We may be aware of some of them, such as Zebra Mussels or Sea Lampreys, because of the effect on the Great Lakes. Others, such as Brown Snakes, Walking Catfish or Stable Flies, we, almost certainly, are not. Nor are all species animal. Many, like Purple Loosestrife, are plants. This well-designed book gives a concise and informative summary of the nature of these invading species and the damage being done by them.

Illustrated by Toronto Artist, Mark Thurman, the book is ostensibly designed for children aged 9 – 12. However, in our opinion, it will appeal equally to all ages, adults included. Published by Tundra Books ($24.99) the book will be available in April. We think our customers will really like this book. Signed copies will be available at Starlight Books.

I hope that by the time you read this article there will be some signs of Spring. Maybe we will all be able to walk in our gardens or, who knows, take a stroll through the woods. In the optimistic hope that this will be possible, I would like to recommend a couple of Field Guides that will make your walk more enjoyable.

“Field Guide to Birds of North America”.
The absolute best book on birds we have come across!! This covers all the birds on the continent. Easy to use and beautifully illustrated with colour photographs (not artistic renderings) which are clear, sharp and done in a way that would not have been possible without modern print technology. Sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation, and published by Sterling Publishing. Reasonably priced at
$23.95 Cdn. We highly recommend this book for every kitchen in Ontario.

“Trees of Ontario” (Lone Pine Publishing, $21.95). Again, this handy book uses modern photographic colour reproductions of every tree you are likely to encounter in our area. Also, this book is designed to accompany you on your walk through the woods. With a robust binding and handy size it looks to be designed for years of use. If you are feeling rich you might want to try the matching book by the same publisher, “Birds of Ontario” ($26.95). Although not as good a book as the one recommended above, it is very good for local birds.

Finally, a few other items that have appealed to us lately.

“Duma Key” (Scriber, $32.00) by Stephen King. The Master is back again. This is a stand-alone novel (not one of the Dark Tower series) about a man who loses his right arm in an accident and subsequently his mind and his marriage. He decides to escape from it all and moves from Minneapolis to Duma Key in Florida. All sorts of eerie things begin to happen which we don’t want to give away. This is vintage Stephen King, which means scary!

“The Appeal” (Doubleday, $33.00) by John Grisham. I heard from somewhere (not sure if it is true) that John Grisham and Stephen King have a small bet as to which book will sell the most copies. If so, they are both trying to win the bet by writing books that got them to where they are. After a few books like “Skipping Christmas”, “Playing for Pizza” and “The Innocent Man”, Grisham has returned to the arena he knows best … the Courtroom. An excellent and topical story of a company trying to pervert the course of justice.

“No Country for Old Men” (Vintage, $15.50) by Cormac McCarthy. Yes, it’s a good movie! Yes, it’s a really good book! And … yes, Cormac McCarthy is a really good author.

Thank you and Roll on Spring!