Teaser Tuesdays #13: Poles Apart by Terry Fallis

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page (some times you need more than two for it to make sense).
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week's teaser comes from Poles Apart by Terry Fallis

Publisher: Douglas Gibson Books
Publishing Date: October 20, 2015
Genre: Fiction

Synopsis:
Eve of Equality, a new feminist blog, becomes an overnight sensation when a wildly popular talk show host stumbles upon it, tweets about it, and promotes it on her show. The anonymous blog is intelligent, thoughtful, and bold, brazenly taking on various injustices in the lives of women. But it’s the blogger Eve’s post about the controversial entrepreneur behind XY, a new chain of high-end strip clubs opening up across the country, that sets off a firestorm. In a matter of hours, the site crashes, its Twitter count jumps from a paltry 19 followers to nearly 250,000, and Eve is suddenly lauded as the new voice of modern feminism.

But who, exactly, is the Eve behind Eve of Equality? Well . . . not who you might think. Meet Everett Kane, aspiring writer and fervent feminist. He writes his erudite blog in his new apartment, at his kitchen table, and his life is about to change forever.

Hilarious and smart, and offering timely commentary on a subject that is flooding our headlines, newsfeeds, Twitter streams, and conversations, Poles Apart is Terry Fallis at his best, confirming his status as a king of CanLit comedy.

Teasers:

"Some researchers believe this kind of gender-specific behaviour has always been, or has somehow become, written into our DNA. Others still believe that even in the most gender-neutral households, children cannot be completely isolated from the daily onslaught of stereotypes in books, in music, on television, on the radio, on iPads, online, and in countless other aspects of their daily lives." (p203)

Teaser Tuesdays #12 - 2015 Giller Prize Edition (Week 5)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page (some times you need more than two for it to make sense).
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The final edition of my 2015 Giller Prize feature Fifteen Dogs by André Alexis.

Title: Fifteen Dogs
Author: André Alexis
Publisher: Coach House Books
Publishing Date: April 14, 2015 (Originally published on March 23, 2015)
Genre: Fiction

Teasers:
Olympus, the city, lies atop Olympus, the mountain. Much more than that cannot be said because it is, as any city is, a correlative of the minds that made it. Travel through Olympus would be revelation of the imagination that conceived the city. That imagination being divine, no human language can express it. (p91)


Tonight is the night! The winner of the 2015 Giller Prize will be announced at the gala this evening. Which of the nominees was your favourite?

Word Cloud: Martin John by Anakana Schofield

I just finished reading Martin John by Anakana Schofield and... whoa. I can't even gather my thoughts to write a proper review so here are a few of the words my brain was able to come up with...

This book is disturbing and so well written. A definite must read!

Mini Review: The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters

Title: The Last Policeman

Author: Ben H. Winters

Publisher: Quirk Books

Source: Purchased
Format: eBook

Release Date: July 10, 2012

Synopsis from the publisher's website:
What’s the point in solving murders if we’re all going to die soon, anyway?

Detective Hank Palace has faced this question ever since asteroid 2011GV1 hovered into view. There’s no chance left. No hope. Just six precious months until impact.

The Last Policeman presents a fascinating portrait of a pre-apocalyptic United States. The economy spirals downward while crops rot in the fields. Churches and synagogues are packed. People all over the world are walking off the job—but not Hank Palace. He’s investigating a death by hanging in a city that sees a dozen suicides every week—except this one feels suspicious, and Palace is the only cop who cares.

The first in a trilogy, The Last Policeman offers a mystery set on the brink of an apocalypse. As Palace’s investigation plays out under the shadow of 2011GV1, we’re confronted by hard questions way beyond “whodunit.” What basis does civilization rest upon? What is life worth? What would any of us do, what would we really do, if our days were numbered?

Mini Review:

The Last Policeman was a very compelling read. In this pre-apocalyptic novel, we meet Henry Palace, a newly promoted detective. Henry refuses to stop investigating a suspected murder case despite having the knowledge that the Earth and its inhabitants will be eradicated by an asteroid.

The events laid out in the book lead readers to ask more questions than a typical "whodunit" mystery. It leads you to reflect on what you would do if you only had 6 more months on Earth. Would you continue living your life? Go on an extended vacation? Or just choose to end it all by your own hand?

This is the first in the Last Policeman Trilogy. I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait to continue reading about Henry Palace in the sequel, Countdown City.

I was introduced to The Last Policeman series through The Morning Show Book Club. You can read more about the book club and its next featured read, Black Swan Green by David Mitchell, here.

Rating: ★★★★★

Teaser Tuesdays #11 - 2015 Giller Prize (Week 4)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page (some times you need more than two for it to make sense).
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Week 4 of my 2015 Giller Prize feature is a teaser from Daydreams of Angels by Heather O'Neill. Enjoy!

Title: Daydreams of Angels
Author: Heather O'Neill
Publisher: Biblioasis
Publishing Date: September 29, 2015 (Originally published in September 2014)
Genre: Fiction

Teasers:
The old man had spent his whole life in this neighbourhood. when he was younger and met girls in the big dance halls downtown, he wouldn't tell them that he lived in Little Burgundy. It had always been working class and poor. And it was literally downhill and on the other side of the tracks. A girl would look for a boy from Westmount or Outremont if she had any sense, not a boy from this part of town. (p235)

Only one week to go! November 10 is the big day. Who is your favourite to win this year's Giller Prize?

Teaser Tuesdays #10 - 2015 Giller Prize Edition (Week 3)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page (some times you need more than two for it to make sense).
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Week 3 of my 2015 Giller Prize feature is a teaser from Samuel Archibald's Arvida. Enjoy!

Title: Arvida
Author: Samuel Archibald
Publisher: Biblioasis
Publishing Date: September 29, 2015 (Originally published in September 2014)
Genre: Fiction

Teasers:

In no time at all, women were arriving from the village and the entire peninsula, to be sculpted. This beauty Misaka and I had invented was now walking the streets, given prominence by the spouses' strategically perforated dresses, and the dismayed ugliness of the husbands. (p119)

Here's a quick background on the Giller Prize from their website:

"The Giller Prize was founded in 1994 by Jack Rabinovitch in honour of his late wife, literary journalist Doris Giller, who passed away from cancer the year before. The award recognized excellence in Canadian fiction – long format or short stories – and endowed a cash prize annually of $25,000.00, the largest purse for literature in the country."

Anyone have thoughts on who the winner will be on November 10?

Brave Enough by Cheryl Strayed

Title: Brave Enough

Author: Cheryl Strayed

Publisher: Knopf

Source: Publisher

Release Date: October 27, 2015

Goodreads Synopsis

Around the world, thousands of people have found inspiration in the words of Cheryl Strayed, who in her three prior books and in her "Dear Sugar" columns has shared the twists and trials of her remarkable life. Her honesty, spirit, and ample supply of tough love have enabled many of us, even in the darkest hours, to somehow put one foot in front of the other--and be brave enough.

This book gathers, each on a single page, more than 100 of Strayed's indelible quotes and thoughts--"mini instruction manuals for the soul" that urge us toward the incredible capacity for love, compassion, forgiveness, and endurance that is within us all.

Be brave enough to break your own heart.
You can't ride to the fair unless you get on the pony.
Keep walking.
Acceptance is a small, quiet room.
Romantic love is not a competitive sport.
Forward is the direction of real life.
Ask yourself: What is the best I can do? And then do that.

Review:
My ARC of Brave Enough was sitting on my night stand for about 3 weeks before I finally read it. The day I decided to pick up the book was a terrible day. My kids were sick the night before, I arrived at my office WITHOUT my laptop and I left my keys at home. Needless to say, that evening I was exhausted. After I put the kids down to bed, I just needed a bit of quiet time and a good book.

Enter Cheryl Strayed...

Brave Enough was not what I expected at all. It is a collection of quotes that will both motivate and inspire you. Each page brings about a sentence or paragraph that will leave you reflecting about your life, your decisions and your relationships. Brave Enough great read for a rainy day and the perfect book to gift to a friend or loved one.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of Brave Enough from Penguin Random House Canada for review. All opinions are my own

Rating: ★★★★★

Teaser Tuesdays #9 - Giller Prize 2015 Edition (Week2)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page (some times you need more than two for it to make sense).
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Week 2 of my Giller Prize feature:

Here is book 2 of 5:

Title: Martin John
Author: Anakana Schofield
Publisher: Biblioasis
Publishing Date: September 15, 2015
Genre: Fiction

Teasers:
What Martin John doesn't tell the doctors, doesn't tell mam, doesn't tell a soulful sinner, wouldn't tell you, except for this Meddler letting you know, is his knowledge Baldy Conscience is after him FULL-TIME, OVERTIME, AND DOUBLE TIME. (p127)


Here's a quick background on the Giller Prize from their website:

"The Giller Prize was founded in 1994 by Jack Rabinovitch in honour of his late wife, literary journalist Doris Giller, who passed away from cancer the year before. The award recognized excellence in Canadian fiction – long format or short stories – and endowed a cash prize annually of $25,000.00, the largest purse for literature in the country."

Is anyone else planning on reading all of the short list nominees before November 10?

Losing the Signal: The Spectacular Rise And Fall Of BlackBerry by Jacquie McNish & Sean Silcoff

Title: Losing the Signal: The Spectacular Rise And Fall Of Blackberry

Authors: Jacquie McNish, Sean Silcoff

Publisher: HarperCollins Canada

Source: Purchased

Release Date: May 26, 2015

Synopsis from HarperCollins Canada website:
It was a classic modern business story: two Canadian entrepreneurs build an iconic brand that would forever change the way we communicate. From its humble beginnings in an office above a bagel store in Waterloo, Ontario, BlackBerry outsmarted the global giants with an addictive smartphone that generated billions of dollars. Its devices were so ubiquitous that even President Barack Obama favoured them above all others. But just as it was emerging as the dominant global player, BlackBerry took a dramatic turn.

Losing the Signal is the riveting, never-before-told story of one of the most spectacular technological upsets of the 21st century. Unlike Enron, which was undone by its executives' illegal activities, or Lehman Brothers, which collapsed as part of a larger global banking crisis, BlackBerry's rise and fall is a modern-day tale of the unrelenting speed of success and failure. It is a thrilling account of how two mismatched CEOs outsmarted more-powerful competitors with a combination of innovation and sharp-elbowed tactics; and how, once on top of the world, they lost their way. The company responded too slowly to competitors' innovations, and when it finally made its move, it stumbled with delayed, poorly designed and unpopular smartphones. A little more than a decade after Research In Motion introduced the BlackBerry, it is now struggling to survive. Its share of the US phone market fell from 50 per cent in 2009 to about one percent in 2013, showing just how aggressive, fast and unforgiving today's global business market can be.

Mini Review:

Confessions of a CrackBerry Addict:

• I've slept with one under my pillow / at my bedside for 3+ years. 
• I've tripped while racing to see why my red light is blinking.
• My right thumb is extremely limber from years of trackwheel and trackball use.
• My husband proposed to me on BBM, and freaked out when he saw an "R" but got no response after an hour... (This didn't happen to me, but I wouldn't be surprised if it happened somewhere in the world...)

Losing the Signal provides an intimate and behind the scenes look at how BlackBerry helped shape the mobile device industry and was eventually left in its dust. The book is extremely well researched and I highly recommend it to readers who are interested in Canadian business or the telecom industry. 

Disclaimer:  Opinions expressed are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of my employer

Rating: ★★★★★

Unfinished Business: Women Men Work Family by Anne-Marie Slaughter

Title: Unfinished Business: Women Men Work Family

Author: Anne-Marie Slaughter

Publisher: Random House Canada

Source: Publisher

Release Date: September 29, 2015

Review:
Anne-Marie Slaughter landed her dream job as the director of policy planning at the U.S. State Department under Hillary Clinton. She served in this role for two years as she took time away from her career as a professor at Princeton. In 2011, she took resigned from the State Department to return home and bring balance back to her life. Slaughter brings together a collection her past experiences, media and literary sources to bring forward her thoughts, beliefs and hopes to guide us to improved equality in the workforce for all people - not just women.

Being a mother of two young children with a demanding career has often left me looking to books and articles online to help my husband and I along the way. Many of these provide some of the same basic tips which rarely ever worked for our family's situation. Thankfully, the wonderful folks at Random House Canada came to the rescue with an ARC of this gem.

Unfinished Business is the best work-life balance book I've read, EVER. Slaughter provides clear and concise examples for all people in various stages of their lives. There is a chapter and set of actionable steps for everyone. Her learnings from her own family life, books/articles she's read and those around her are compiled into this book for all to see.

I would recommend this book in a heart beat to anyone no matter what stage of you're life you're in. Whether you have kids or not will not make a difference when reading this book. For single folk and young couples, it can help you start off your careers with an open mind, and for young families in similar situations to mine, it will remind you that you're not alone.

Anne-Marie Slaughter hit a home run with this book! If anyone else has read it, I'd love to hear your thoughts, feel free to leave them in the comments box below.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of Unfinished Business: Women Men Work Family from Random House Canada for review. All opinions are my own

Rating: ★★★★★

Teaser Tuesdays #8 - Giller Prize 2015 Edition (Week 1)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page (some times you need more than two for it to make sense).
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

For the next 5 weeks, I wanted to highlight the five books that have been shortlisted for the 2015 Giller Prize. Here's a quick background on the Giller Prize from their website:

"The Giller Prize was founded in 1994 by Jack Rabinovitch in honour of his late wife, literary journalist Doris Giller, who passed away from cancer the year before. The award recognized excellence in Canadian fiction – long format or short stories – and endowed a cash prize annually of $25,000.00, the largest purse for literature in the country."

Here is book 1 of 5:

Title: Outline
Author: Rachel Cusk
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Publishing Date: September 1, 2015 (Originally published on September 2, 2014)
Genre: Fiction

Teasers:
The intangible became solid, the visionary was embodied, the private became public. (p82)

I said his image reminded me of a scene from an opera I liked - in fact I had found a recording of it in Clelia's apartment - called The Cunning Little Vixen, in which a fox is aught by a hunter and kept in a farmyard wtih the other animals. (p161)

Is anyone else planning on reading all of the Giller Prize nominees?

The Devil You Know: A Novel by Elisabeth de Mariaffi

Title: The Devil You Know: A Novel

Author: Elisabeth de Mariaffi

Publisher: HarperCollins
Format: eBook

Source: Purchased

Release Date: February 3, 2015

Synopsis from publisher's website:
The year is 1993. First-year reporter Evie Jones is haunted by the unsolved 1982 murder of her best friend, Lianne Gagnon, back when the girls were both eleven. The suspected killer, a repeat offender named Robert Cameron, was never apprehended. Now twenty-two and living alone for the first time, Evie is obsessively drawn to researching the real story of who killed Lianne. She leans on childhood friend David Patton for help, but every clue they uncover seems to lead to an unimaginable conclusion. As she gets closer and closer to the truth, Evie becomes convinced that the killer is still at large--and that he’s coming back for her.

In the wake of Paul Bernardo’s arrest for a double murder, and a case of identity theft that seems to point to Robert Cameron himself, Evie is stalked by a strange man who stands out on her fire escape night after night, watching her every move. Has her anxiety simply taken over? Or can Evie somehow be drawing the killer closer to herself? Only a harrowing last visit to see David’s father, Graham, provides the answer Evie has been so desperate to find--the trail that leads from Patton to Cameron to eleven-year-old Lianne, and ultimately to Evie herself.

Review:
I came across The Devil You Know when I was creating my list of books for Reading Bingo. This book would have covered the "Thriller/Mystery written by a Canadian author" square. It has been sitting in my Kindle TBR list for a few months now and the chance to finally read it came up. What drew me to this book was its mention of the Paul Bernardo case. I grew up and lived in Scarborough most of my life. So, the stories and news that the Bernardo case left in its wake popped up in several conversations over the years. It was interesting to see how the stories of Bernardo could have affected the mindset of the journalists and media working on his case. From this book we get to see how Evie is affected by the news and sleepless nights.

There were many instances in this book that had me looking over my shoulder. The creep factor in these scenes are very high. There are many occurrences where Evie, the book's main character is alone and her mind often wanders leading her to believe that there is someone in the room with her. Whether she's working late at her office, down in the paper archives or at home after a long day she is constantly feeling like she's being watched.

The Devil You Know was a great thriller and mystery novel. It is very dark and anyone who has trouble reading about issues surrounding violence, specifically against women, may have trouble reading this. Though none of the details are graphic, the creep factor in a few of the scenes is enough to get some readers on edge. For me, this book would have propelled to a 5 star novel if the story did not drag as much. I found a couple of the chapters to be filled with some details that could have been cut out and helped move the story along quicker.

I would recommend this book to those who enjoy Canadian literature and mystery novels. The book has tons of local Toronto and St. Catharines details that residents and visitors can appreciate.

Rating: ★★★★★

Lost and Found: A Novel by Brooke Davis

Title: Lost and Found: A Novel

Author: Brooke Davis

Publisher: Penguin Canada

Source: Purchased

Release Date: February 3, 2015

Publisher's website synopsis:
Millie Bird, seven-years old and ever hopeful, always wears red gumboots to match her curly hair. Her struggling mother, grieving the death of Millie’s father, leaves her in the big ladies’ underwear department of a local store and never returns.

Agatha Pantha, eighty-two, has not left her house – or spoken to another human being – since she was widowed seven years ago. She fills the silences by yelling at passersby, watching loud static on the TV and maintaining a strict daily schedule.

Karl the Touch Typist, eighty-seven, once used his fingers to type out love notes on his wife's skin. Now that she’s gone, he types his words out into the air as he speaks. Karl’s been committed to nursing home but in a moment of clarity and joy, he escapes. Now he’s on the lam. Brought together in strange circumstances, the three will embark upon a road trip across Western Australia to find Millie’s mum. Along the way, Karl wants to find out how to be a man again; Agatha just wants everything to go back to how it was.Together, they will discover that old age is not the same as death, that the young can be wise, and that letting yourself feel sad once in a while just might be the key to a happy life.

Review:
I had heard and read so many great (and not so great) reviews about Lost and Found since it was released in February. The synopsis alone caught my attention from the get-go. It is a story about an unlikely trio who find themselves travelling across Australia together in an attempt to reunite Millie and her mother. The story is a bit strange and the scenarios are very unlikely, but to really enjoy Agatha, Millie and Karl's story, you just have to go with the flow and tag along for the ride.

The characters get themselves into predicaments that will make you laugh, cringe and maybe even cry. This range of emotion that is elicited while reading Lost and Found is what makes it such a fantastic book. Agatha Pantha is a character I won't soon forget. Her mannerisms and upfront nature are hilarious. She also has a softer side that is shown the closer she gets to Karl and Millie. She is definitely on my list of favourite characters of all time.

I opened this book wholeheartedly and was a different person after I closed it. Brook Davis' debut novel has landed a spot on my favourites shelf. It's currently sitting next to my copy of The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion because of its blue cover, Australian setting and quirky characters.

Rating: ★★★★★

Teaser Tuesdays #7

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page (some times you need more than two for it to make sense).
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here's a peek at this week's book:

Title: Losing the Signal: The Spectacular Rise And Fall Of Blackberry
Authors: Jacquie McNish, Sean Silcoff
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Publishing Date: May 26, 2015
Genre: Non-Fiction, Business

BlackBerry's first users weren't typically early adopters - gearheads who routinely rushed out to experiment with any new technology. (p.73)

A company that was at war with itself and, in some quarters, overly enamoured with an aging product line, was about to address critics with one of its biggest product gambles ever. (p.192)

Where They Found Her by Kimberly McCreight

Title: Where The Found Her

Author: Kimberly McCreight

Publisher: Harper
Format: Paperback

Source: Purchased

Release Date: April 14, 2015

Synopsis:

An idyllic suburban town.

A devastating discovery.

Shocking revelations that will change three lives forever.

At the end of a long winter in well-to-do Ridgedale, New Jersey, the body of a newborn is found in the woods fringing the campus of the town's prestigious university. No one knows the identity of the baby, what ended her very short life, or how she came to be found among the fallen leaves. But for the residents of Ridgedale, there is no shortage of opinions.
When freelance journalist and recent Ridgedale transplant Molly Sanderson is unexpectedly called upon to cover the disturbing news for the Ridgedale Reader—the town's local paper—she has good reason to hesitate. A severe depression followed the loss of her own baby, and this assignment could unearth memories she has tried hard to bury. But the disturbing history Molly uncovers is not her own. Her investigation reveals a decades-old trail of dark secrets hiding behind Ridgedale's white picket fences.

Told from the perspectives of three Ridgedale women, Kimberly McCreight's taut and profoundly moving novel unwinds the tangled truth behind the tragedy, revealing that these women have far more in common than they could ever have imagined: that the very worst crimes are committed against those we love. And that—sooner or later—the past catches up to all of us.

Review:
I first heard about Kimberly McCreight's Where They Found Her when it was featured on the 50 Book Pledge website. I bought it few weeks later and it collected dust in my TBR pile for 3 more months. When it eventually made its way to the top, I was hooked. I engulfed the entire book in one night.

Where They Found Her is a nail biting mystery surrounding a death that leads Molly Sanderson down a path of uncovering years of secrets in her small town. It is an unpredictable story filled with dark twists and turns. I was able to connect with most of the characters in the book with the exception of Barbara. I found her character a bit out of place and quite annoying.

Overall, I found Where They Found Her to be a gripping story that entertained me from beginning to end. Unlike most mystery novels, I didn't try to solve this one right out of the gates. I enjoyed the ride which allowed me to appreciate the intricacies in the story lines and indulge in each of the characters' deep dark secrets.

If you're looking for a new thriller to read, I would definitely recommend giving Where They Found her a go. Readers who enjoyed Girl on the Train will find this book familiar in both its writing style and its ability to keep you at the edge of your seat.

Rating: ★★★★★

Struggles of a Dreamer: A Novel by Yahaya Baruwa

Title: Struggles of a Dreamer: A Novel

Author: Yahaya Baruwa

Publisher: Tapestry House Publishing

Source: Purchased

Release Date: January 1, 2010

Goodreads Synopsis

In Struggles of a Dreamer: The Battle between a Dream and Tradition, the stories of Tunde, a beggar on the streets of New York City, and Toku'te, the son of a farmer in a faraway land, are woven together in a charming tale full of intriguing characters and adventure. You will encounter the struggles of a dreamer as he faces the challenges of the limiting boundaries of his tradition. You will laugh, cry, experience romance, be frightened, and be held in suspense as you find out how Toku'te manages to remain afloat in a world that requires everyone to fit the same mold.

Review:

Struggles of a dreamer tells a story from the perspective of two characters living in different times and in different lands brought together by the teaching of a single book. Tunde immigrates from his homeland to North America. While trying to live out the American Dream, he falters as a result of poor decisions and bad luck until he comes across an item that soon changes his way of thinking. Toku'te, a young man who grows up in a time much different from Tunde, decides to leave home to pursue his dream. His success stemming from the very same book that changes Tunde's life.

I met the author, Yahaya Baruwa, at my local Chapters book store where he had a table set up to tell passers-by about his book. He greeted me with a warm smile, a friendly handshake and a captivating story about how he followed his dreams to become a writer. His positivity is one of the first things you notice about him and it is very evident in his writing.

Since I've started my blog, I found that I've mostly read up and coming books and new releases. Not really giving myself the time to see what else is out there. I'm glad I got the chance to meet Yahaya and had the honour to read his book. If you're looking for something different, Struggles of a Dreamer is it. The book will leave you inspired and lead you to think about past decisions and maybe even current struggles. It opens readers' minds into thinking in a more positive way. The book has made a difference in my life and if you choose to read it, I hope it does the same for you.

Rating: ★★★★★

Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling (Mini Review)

Title: Why Not Me?
Authors: Mindy Kaling
Publisher: Crown Archetype
Publishing Date: September 15, 2015
Genre: Non-Fiction








Why Not Me? Is an open and honest collection of essays written by a celebrity that I truly admire, Mindy Kaling. In this book Mindy discusses a variety of personal and hilarious stories that take place from her days as a college student to her current career as the show runner and star of the Mindy Project. Mindy covers topics ranging from gender equality, relationships and rise to celebrity. The theme that really stuck out for me was her wave of self confidence. Her self-esteem and comfort in her own skin is a trait I hope other readers pick up on. It is definitely a characteristic to admire.

Why Not Me? is a fun and quirky book. Mindy Kaling fans will definitely enjoy getting a glimpse into her everyday life and maybe even learn a lesson or two from her wise words. I definitely recommend emptying your schedule before picking up this book because you won't want to put it down.

Disclaimer: I received a finished copy of Why Not Me from Penguin Random House Canada for review. All opinions are my own

Rating: ★★★★★

Yes, My Accent Is Real: and Some Other Things I Haven't Told You by Kunal Nayyar

Title: Yes, My Accent Is Real: and Some Other Things I Haven't Told You
Authors: Kunal Nayyar
Publisher: Atria Books
Publishing Date: September 15, 2015
Genre: Non-Fiction









Synopsis from the Simon & Schuster website:

In the spirit of Mindy Kaling’s bestseller Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, a collection of humorous, autobiographical essays from Kunal Nayyar, best known as Raj on CBS’s #1 hit comedy The Big Bang Theory.

Of all the charming misfits on television, there’s no doubt Raj from The Big Bang Theory—the sincere yet incurably geeky Indian-American astrophysicist—ranks among the misfittingest. Now, we meet the actor who is every bit as loveable as the character he plays on TV. In this revealing collection of essays written in his irreverent, hilarious, and self-deprecating voice, Kunal Nayyar traces his journey from a little boy in New Delhi who mistakes an awkward first kiss for a sacred commitment, gets nosebleeds chugging Coca-Cola to impress other students, and excels in the sport of badminton, to the confident, successful actor on the set of TV’s most-watched sitcom since Friends.

Going behind the scenes of The Big Bang Theory and into his personal experiences, Kunal introduces readers to the people who helped him grow, such as his James Bond-loving, mustachioed father who taught him the most important lessons in life: Treat a beggar as you would a king. There are two sides to every story. A smile goes a long way. And, when in doubt, use a spreadsheet. Kunal also walks us through his college years in Portland, where he takes his first sips of alcohol and learns to let loose with his French, 6’8” gentle-giant roommate, works his first-ever job for the university’s housekeeping department cleaning toilets for minimum wage, and begins a series of romantic exploits that go just about as well as they would for Raj. (That is, until he meets and marries a former Miss India in an elaborate seven-day event that we get to experience in a chapter titled “My Big Fat Indian Wedding.”)

Full of heart, but never taking itself too seriously, this witty and often inspiring collection of underdog tales follows a young man as he traverses two continents in search of a dream, along the way transcending culture and language (and many, many embarrassing incidents) to somehow miraculously land the role of a lifetime.

Review:
Last month JG and I were getting ready for a short trip to Washington D.C. and instead of planning out my outfits for our lunch with PoTUS (didn't really happen....will likely NEVER happen...) I was more concerned about which book(s) I was going to take with me. Luckily, Kunal Nayyar arrived on my door step (his book, not the man himself) and saved the day. Thank you Catherine! Kunal and I started to get acquainted as soon as we passed airport security.

Yes, My Accent is Real is a collection of autobiographical essays and is filled with many (hilarious) reflections of Nayyar's life leading up to his big break. I have to confess, I was once a fan of The Big Bang Theory, but life has gotten in the way of our relationship. Raj, Kunal Nayyar's character on the show was and still is one of my favourite characters. His medical condition, selective mutism, has always been quite intriguing and I'm happy that Nayyar addresses it in his book. We also get a look into Nayyar's privileged upbringing in India, his close relationship with his parents and his struggles to attain his "American Dream".

If you're looking for dirt on your favourite Big Bang Theory character, this book will likely disappoint.Yes, My Accent is Real is, however, a fun and engaging read written by an author that is genuine and intelligent. The book is filled with many moments that will make you laugh out loud. Tip: Do not read this book while watching the safety video on a flight. The look the flight attendant gave me was not so pleasant as I chuckled through the "How to put on your life jacket section".

I thoroughly enjoyed Kunal Nayyar's debut novel and I hope it won't be the last.

Disclaimer: I received an advanced reading copy of Yes, My Accent Is Real: and Some Other Things I Haven't Told You from Simon & Schuster Canada for review. All opinions are my own

Rating: ★★★★★

Armada by Ernest Cline

Title: Armada
Authors: Ernest Cline
Publisher: Crown Publishing
Publishing Date: July 14, 2015
Genre: Fiction








Goodreads Synopsis:
Zack Lightman has spent his life dreaming. Dreaming that the real world could be a little more like the countless science-fiction books, movies, and videogames he’s spent his life consuming. Dreaming that one day, some fantastic, world-altering event will shatter the monotony of his humdrum existence and whisk him off on some grand space-faring adventure.

But hey, there’s nothing wrong with a little escapism, right? After all, Zack tells himself, he knows the difference between fantasy and reality. He knows that here in the real world, aimless teenage gamers with anger issues don’t get chosen to save the universe.

And then he sees the flying saucer.

Even stranger, the alien ship he’s staring at is straight out of the videogame he plays every night, a hugely popular online flight simulator called Armada—in which gamers just happen to be protecting the earth from alien invaders.

No, Zack hasn’t lost his mind. As impossible as it seems, what he’s seeing is all too real. And his skills—as well as those of millions of gamers across the world—are going to be needed to save the earth from what’s about to befall it.

It’s Zack’s chance, at last, to play the hero. But even through the terror and exhilaration, he can’t help thinking back to all those science-fiction stories he grew up with, and wondering: Doesn’t something about this scenario seem a little…familiar?

At once gleefully embracing and brilliantly subverting science-fiction conventions as only Ernest Cline could, Armada is a rollicking, surprising thriller, a classic coming of age adventure, and an alien invasion tale like nothing you’ve ever read before—one whose every page is infused with the pop-culture savvy that has helped make Ready Player One a phenomenon.

Review
I have read/heard a lot of really great things about Ernest Cline's previous book Ready Player One. The book’s storyline sounded like something I would enjoy and is still sitting on my never ending TBR list. When Random House Canada gave me the opportunity review a copy of Armada, I was super excited.

Similar to the main character, my childhood was filled with memories of videogames, sci-fi movies and action figures. This is likely why I was able to easily connect to Zack and his journey to save the human race. There are an abundance of pop culture references, which I LOVED. They are often used to explain/help visualize the characters’ actions and reactions or to describe settings. Some readers may not enjoy the book as much if they don't pick up on them. But, if you do, it makes Armada that much more amazing.

Overall, I found Armada to be a fast paced and thrilling coming of age story. It was really hard to put down and now that I’m done, I can’t stop raving about it. Armada is the perfect read for gamers, geeks and anyone in between who appreciates a down and dirty alien apocalypse.

Disclaimer: I received a finished copy of Armada from Random House Canada for review. All opinions are my own

Rating: ★★★★★

Teaser Tuesdays #6

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page (some times you need more than two for it to make sense).
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here's a peek at this week's book:

Title: Armada
Authors: Ernest Cline
Publisher: Crown Publishing
Publishing Date: July 14, 2015
Genre: Fiction

Maybe it was just as I had always secretly feared: The apple had fallen right next to the Crazy Tree. (p.5)

"May the Force be with us," Shin repeated, with no hint of irony in his Voice. (p.265)

The Blue: A Novel by Lucy Clarke

Title: The Blue: A Novel
Author: Lucy Clarke
Publisher: Touchstone
Source: Publisher
Publishing Date: August 11, 2015
Genre: Fiction







Goodreads Synopsis:
In the tradition of Alex Garland’s The Beach, a spine-tingling adventure novel about a group of friends whose journey around the world on a yacht turns from a trip to paradise into a chilling nightmare when one of them disappears at sea.

A group of friends. 
A yacht. 
And a disappearance-at-sea that turns paradise into a chilling nightmare. 

Lana and her best friend Kitty leave home looking for freedom—and that’s exactly what they find when they are invited onto The Blue, a fifty-foot yacht making its way from the Philippines to New Zealand. The crew is made up of a group of young travellers bitten by wanderlust, and it doesn’t take long for Lana and Kitty’s dream of sea-bound romance to turn into reality.

Both women fall under the hypnotic spell of The Blue, spending their days exploring remote islands and their rum-filled nights relaxing on deck beneath the stars. But when one of their friends disappears overboard after an argument with another crewmember, the dark secrets that brought each of them aboard start to unravel.

At turns gorgeously scenic and entirely haunting, The Blue is a page-turning thriller about friendship, freedom and wanting to leave the past behind

Review:
I've had to decline a few review requests over the past couple months because I've been so behind in my reading. When I received an email from the Simon & Schuster Canada team about reviewing The Blue, three things popped out at me: New Zealand (I love the Hobbit and all things LoTR), the Philippines (where my parents are from) and its genre - a psychological thriller. There was no way I was turning down the opportunity to read  it. 

The story begins with two best friends who have had enough with their life in London and decide to travel the world. They grab a globe to choose a random location and land on the Philippines. Lana and Kitty embark on their adventure living day to day on the islands. During one of their day trips they come across a crew that lives their life on a yacht called, The Blue. Lana and Kitty join the crew and live a carefree life until a turn of events leads to a crew member missing and each person's deepest secrets revealed.

The Blue was a fantastic book. It was beautifully descriptive and had perfect details about each of the settings. The suspense carried throughout the book especially as it skipped between the past and present, often leaving you hanging and wanting more. As much as I enjoy psychological thrillers, I always find it so difficult to review them because I do my best to keep my posts spoiler free. The Blue had so many plot twists and unexpected turns. I will say that I normally come close or hit it bang on when it comes to twisty endings, but this one totally fooled me. I recommend this book to those who enjoy a great suspense. mystery, or thriller novel. It will definitely keep you on your toes.

Prior to reading The Blue I had never heard of Lucy Clarke or any of her previous work. After finishing this book, I looked into some of Lucy Clarke's other books and the Sea Sisters definitely looks like something I would enjoy. I really hope to get to it... one day.  This is one huge reason why I love being part of the book blogger community. It gives me so many wonderful opportunities to meet amazing people and discover my next favourite book. 

Question to my blogger friends and readers: Which books/authors have you discovered over the months/years that have unexpectedly become one of your favourites?

Disclaimer: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Blue: A Novel from Simon & Schuster Canada. All opinions are my own

Rating: ★★★★★

Mãn by Kim Thúy

Title: Mãn
Author: Kim Thúy
Publisher: Vintage Canada
Source: Publisher
Publishing Date: July 7, 2015
Genre: Fiction







Synopsis:
Mãn has three mothers: the one who gives birth to her in wartime, the nun who plucks her from a vegetable garden, and her beloved Maman, who becomes a spy to survive. Seeking security for her grown daughter, Maman finds Mãn a husband--a lonely Vietnamese restaurateur who lives in Montreal. Thrown into a new world, Mãn discovers her natural talent as a chef. Gracefully she practices her art, with food as her medium. She creates dishes that are much more than sustenance for the body: they evoke memory and emotion, time and place, and even bring her customers to tears. Mãn is a mystery--her name means "perfect fulfillment," yet she and her husband seem to drift along, respectfully and dutifully. But when she encounters a married chef in Paris, everything changes in the instant of a fleeting touch, and Mãn discovers the all-encompassing obsession and ever-present dangers of a love affair. Full of indelible images of beauty, delicacy and quiet power, Mãn is a novel that begs to be savoured for its language, its sensuousness and its love of life


Review:
I was first introduced to  Kim Thúy's work earlier this year when I took it upon myself to read each of the Canada Reads 2015 finalists. After a week of intense debates, Ru was crowned the 2015 Canada Reads champion. Kim Thúy was a gracious winner and truly deserved it as the story of Ru did break all barriers.

I was excited when I was given the opportunity to read and review her latest book Mãn. Similar to Ru, Mãn is beautifully written. Thúy's lyrical style of writing takes some getting used to but after a few pages, readers will be able to easily follow along. The book is a collection of vignettes following Mãn's life from Vietnam to Canada. The book focuses heavily on food and its ability to evoke memories and seduce lovers. It was a book I read in a few hours and had a hard time putting down.

Mãn was the perfect book to get me back into the blogging groove. It was a quick read with a story I couldn't help but love. Readers who adored Ru will enjoy Mãn. They are quite similar in writing style and it gives readers a different view of the struggles in finding your place in a new world.  Mãn is also a must read for foodies, there are so many amazing dishes described throughout the book that it's hard to not suppress the hunger pangs while trying to finish the book.

Now that my stomach is once again rumbling, I have to ask... what's your favourite Vietnamese dish?

Rating: ★★★★★

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

Title: Nimona
Author: Noelle Stevenson
Publisher: Harper Collins
Source: Purchased
Publishing Date: May 12, 2015
Genre: YA, Graphic Novel, Fantasy







Synopsis:
Nimona is an impulsive young shape-shifter with a knack for villainy. Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain with a vendetta. As sidekick and supervillain, Nimona and Lord Blackheart are about to wreak some serious havoc. Their mission: prove to the kingdom that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren't the heroes everyone thinks they are.

Nemeses!
Dragons!
Science!
Symbolism!

All these and more await in this brilliantly subversive, sharply irreverent epic from Noelle Stevenson, based on her award-winning web comic.

Review:
I was introduced to Nimona when it was listed as a Featured Read on The Savvy Reader's 50 Book Pledge. I have never read a complete graphic novel, so I thought this would be a great start. I was not disappointed. I read the book in under two hours and enjoyed every page.

The pages are vibrant and filled with beautiful graphics. The story is easy to follow and at times can be laugh out loud funny. This book has made me an instant fan of Noelle Stevenson and I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in getting into reading graphic novels. Nimona was definitely a great starting point for me.

Rating: ★★★★★

The Truth And Other Lies by Sascha Arango

Title: The Truth and Other Lies
Author: Sascha Arango
Publisher: Viking, an imprint of Penguin Canada Books Inc.
Format: Trade Paperback (ARC)
Source: Publisher
Publication Date: June 23, 2015
Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller






Synopsis:
On the surface, Henry Hayden seems like someone you could like, or even admire. A famous bestselling author who appears a modest everyman. A loving, devoted husband even though he could have any woman he desires. A generous friend and co-worker. But Henry Hayden is a construction, a mask. His past is a secret, his methods more so. No one besides he and his wife know that she is the actual writer of the novels that made him famous.

For most of Henry’s life, it hasn’t been a problem. But when his hidden-in-plain-sight mistress becomes pregnant and his carefully constructed facade is about to crumble, he tries to find a permanent solution, only to make a terrible mistake.

Now not only are the police after Henry, but his past—which he has painstakingly kept hidden—threatens to catch up with him as well. Henry is an ingenious man, and he works out an ingenious plan. He weaves lies, truths, and half-truths into a story that may help him survive. But bit by bit the noose still tightens.

Smart, sardonic, and compulsively readable, here is the story of a man whose cunning allows him to evade the consequences of his every action, even when he’s standing on the edge of the abyss.

Review:
The Truth and Other Lies had me hooked from page one. This is one of those books where the main character is corrupt and a genuinely terrible person, but you secretly root for them anyway. The story itself is heavily fictional and has more than a few moments that are hard to believe, but is captivating nonetheless.

I greatly enjoyed this book and it has become one of my favourite thrillers this year. It is a beautifully written, dark and twisted thriller that will leave you wanting more. The twists and turns are shocking and as the story goes on, it becomes harder and harder determine the truth. I'm definitely looking forward to more books from Sascha Arango.

I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy a great thriller/mystery novel. For those who decide to pick up this book, find a comfy spot and settle in because you will not want to put it down.

Disclaimer: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Truth and Other Lies from Penguin Canada. All opinions are my own.

Rating: ★★★★★

Extraordinary Means by Robyn Schneider

Title: Extraordinary Means
Author: Robyn Schneider
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of Harper Collins
Publishing Date: May 26, 2015
Source: Publisher
Genre: YA








Lane was an exemplary high school student. He was member of the model U.N. and was enrolled in a number of A.P. classes to prepare him for his number one college pick, Stanford University. Unfortunately, his plans were derailed when he was diagnosed with an incurable strain of tuberculosis. Like many teenagers diagnosed with this devastating disease, Lane has been sent to Latham House. Latham House is a combination of an advanced medical centre and boarding school.

On his first day, Lane recognizes a girl he met at a summer camp years ago. He remembers Sadie as a shy person who kept to herself. However, the girl he once knew has completely changed. She is outspoken, sarcastic and utterly fascinating. Sadie and her group of friends are completely different from the other residents at Latham House. The group breaks the rules, obtain illicit items for fellow residents and in doing so, live life to the fullest. After spending days and weeks together, Lane and Sadie start to fall in love. Unfortunately, as their love blossoms, their friends' health begin wilt.

Extraordinary Means is a witty story about love, friendships a hope for second chances. I enjoyed this book because the characters were real. They were flawed, made mistakes and were easy to relate to. I saw pieces of my teen aged self in each of the characters. These flaws also made the story a bit more believable.

Another aspect of the book that I greatly enjoyed was the author's creativity when it came to technology. Each of the students are given electronic bracelets that allow them to unlock doors, track their health statistics and location while on Latham grounds (think Disney Magic Band crossed with a Fitbit and GPS locator). I thought the concept of these bands was very imaginative and may actually exist one day, if they don't already.

Extraordinary Means was well written and thoroughly researched. The inclusion of a new, incurable tuberculosis strain was very inventive. It allowed for all of the characters to be secluded and quarantined. Schneider's descriptions of the symptoms that the residents suffer from were vivid and believable. Lastly, the potential for a cure helps keep readers at the edge of their seats while they wait to see if it will arrive on time. This is the first book that I've read by Robyn Schneider and after reading it, I immediately purchased The Beginning of Everything because I enjoyed her writing style so much. I hope it's just as great.

Disclaimer: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Extraordinary Means from Harper Collins Canada (HCC Frenzy) as part of the HCC First Reads program. All opinions are my own.

Rating: ★★★★★