The Literary Adventures of an Opinionated Bookworm

If I could ever use the word "meh" in a book review, it would be for Homage to Catalonia  by George Orwell. Not that this memoir about Orwell's time serving in the Spanish Civil War was bad, I think Orwell and I are just not meant to be best friends. A Not So Civil War The Spanish Civil War was a messy affair, and a not so private event, when you consider the involvement of soldiers from many nationalities. Consider Orwell, a Brit who went to Spain to combat Fascism. The memoir fully encapsulated how the fear of Fascism was felt throughout the world, but it also depicted how complicated the conflict in Spain really was. The country itself was severely divided by regions and beliefs, and this confusion made it difficult for those who opposed Franco to unite against him. So, what can I say? The memoir was discussing one of the most horrid and fascinating moments in history, something I am very interested in. Why did it not gel with me, then? What was it that made it so diff...

I would like to acknowledge that I live on the unceded territory of the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and Stolo Nations. I am kind of ashamed of myself that I haven't done this sooner, but it is important to know that I am a settler on this land, and a part of a history that is still being written, and rewritten.  Decolonizing Methodologies  Have you ever thought about how you come to know and understand? It was not until I watched the TedTalk "The Dangers of a Single Story" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie that I realized many of the books I consumed in school and on my own were only telling one story of the place I call home (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9Ihs241zeg). Decolonizing Methodologies  by Linda Tuhiwai Smith delves into why this is a dangerous thing, and how there are many ways of knowing and learning.  Storytelling is truly a powerful thing, and as a Canadian citizen, I have to acknowledge that the history I was taught in school was not even close to the compl...

Don't you just hate it when book reviews are misleading? Wayetu Moore, author of The Dragons, the Giant, the Women, said His Only Wife  by Peace Adzo Medie is "A hilarious, page-turning, sharply realized portrait of modern womanhood in the most infuriating of circumstances." Kirkus Reviews claimed that it is "A Crazy Rich Asians  for West Africa." These are glowing reviews, which guided me towards Ghana to experience the unique marriage of Afi and Eli. Although reading their story was a unique experience, I felt like something was missing... Afi's Husband Young Afi Tekple agrees to marry Elikem Ganyo in absentia: While she is pledging to love him forever, his brother is making the same promise on his behalf. Even when she moves to Accra, Eli is not there. The reason behind his absence is another woman, one his family despises and the very reason the marriage between Afi and Eli was arranged. Afi is the only hope the Ganyo family has of upholding the image th...

After watching the Netflix movie, "The Trial of the Chicago 7," I was interested in learning more about Abbie Hoffman, and wanted to do so by reading his own words. Steal This Book  was written in 1970 while Hoffman was in jail for the Chicago Riots, (the plot of the movie mentioned), and while I cannot say that I condone stealing, I cannot deny that this book was a good read.  Hoffman on How to Cheat the System Whether or not you agree with Hoffman's politics, it is clear that he was a very intelligent man, and I admire the consistency of his words, views and actions. This book is basically a "How-to-get-things-most -of-us-take-for-granted" guide; free food, medical care, housing, education...things that humans cannot live without and yet, many still do live without. While Hoffman encourages cheating the system, it is important to note that he does not encourage harming fellow human beings. For example, when he wrote about eating for free, he insisted on leavin...

Five days into 2021 and I might have just read the best book of the year! I know it is far to early to say such things, but I cannot help it! I have never read anything like You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories About Racism  by Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamar.  Sisters Talking Written by two sisters, this collection of true short stories details Lacey Lamar's experiences with racism, some that occurred when she was just five years old. Yes, the stories are shocking, and sometimes I wanted to cry (I definitely swore a few times, because how can people be so willfully ignorant?), but I also laughed a lot, which is something I was not expecting. Discussing racism is definitely a hard thing to do, and often times, it can be painful for those who are recounting these experiences, but laughter was a welcome surprise.  All in all, I loved this book, and it is definitely one of my new favourites. It was beautifully written, as if I was sitting with Ruffin and L...

I started 2020 by reading The Ten Thousand Doors of January  by Alix E. Harrow, and although this past year has been hard for so many, for me, it was also one of adventure. I was accepted to my dream university, but prohibited from pursuing that particular adventure by events that we are all well aware of. I briefly lost my job, but became closer with my coworkers because of it. And I was hurt deeply by someone I trusted, but eventually moved on. I cannot say that Harrow's magical words from her debut novel were the reason behind all of these adventures, but I must admit that I was inspired by January to become more resilient, so I find it fitting that I start 2021 with Harrow's second novel, The Once and Future Witches.  The Once and Future Witches Juniper, Agnes and Bella are three sisters that were separated, but somehow found each other again in the city of New Salem, a place where women who rally for the right to vote are accused of witching. "But witching is nothing ...