little bitty girl

We're having such a great discussion over at our online book club, Ship of Fools, about this book. I wanted to continue some of my thoughts here.

I read this book about eight months ago. I am not sure what compelled me to pick it up, perhaps the interesting title but, after the first page, I was completely hooked. Didion's writing is masterful, so raw and honest in her grief.

Living in a Western society, I find it weird that people are so uncomfortable talking about this subject. They don't believe in teaching it to their children. When pets die, kids are told that they've gone to some farm somewhere. When our pets died, we sent out handmade funeral invitations to our neighbourhood friends. We'd all have a chance to say goodbye. I am glad that my parents never hid the truth from me. We talk about loved ones that passed frequently.

When one of my good high school friends died, there was no more talk of her after the memorial services. It was as if everyone wanted to forget something tragic had happened. It was hard for me not to talk about her. I missed her so much and I would think of her in classes and hallways I had seen her last. At the end of the year when I was organizing a memorial for her for our yearbook and had to get a letter from her parents, I found a kindred spirit in her father.

It was awkward at first, he was hesitant and finally I guessed that he really wanted to talk about her. So I talked about things we used to do in school, the funny things she would say, her dreams for her future. I stayed for over an hour. As I left after a very teary afternoon, he whispered, "Thank you. Everyone refuses to talk about her. It's like she never existed." You know the cheesy saying - No one ever truly dies, as long as we have them in our hearts, they are still with us? I really believe it and silence about death is the true death.

more »

Comments (1)
Posted in Reading List, Reviewing

Like every Harry Potter fan, I got my book today. I could barely wait to read it, but Stefan assured me that reading whilst walking home would not do. I have been flying through the pages of the book all afternoon, even shushing Stefan when he tried to ask me a question.

I finished the book in four hours, surprising even myself. The only thing is I am all bummed out that I read it so quickly - sad to know that the series is truly all over. I was really worried on how things could have ended, but I think J.K Rowling did a tremendous job wrapping everything up. I am dying to discuss the book with someone else but I don't think any of my friends have finished it yet and am under oath to not reveal any secrets. I think I'll just start reading the entire series again and by then surely someone will be done.

Comments (0)
Posted in Reading List

Baby, it's cold outside.... How cold? It's been hovering between -20 C (-4 F) and -35 C (-31 F) and really this weather would have been tolerable if we had any HEAT! I swear, I think our landlord is trying to get us to move. Years ago when we moved in, the area was somewhat sketchy and no one really got "loft living." Now, with recent developments and the opening of some really stellar restaurants and building of condos, the area is hot and happening. We still pay reasonable rent in comparison to some of our new neighbours that have moved in. Needless to say, I've been spending most of my week keeping warm. Fingers left out of blankets, or sleeves start to turn into little icicles.

I borrowed The New Natural Cat from the library in order to educate myself more on taking care of Mindy, who has had recent bouts of illness in a more natural way. Like anything new, I read it through and tried to determine for myself what made sense. Sometimes "natural" healing books are too pro-their way and against the others' way. I liked that this book had both pros and cons of both. Even though she does lean more toward the natural way of healing, she also recommended visiting a vet you trusted with your feelings about alternative healing and also going to a vet should your cat be seriously ill. I think I am actually going to buy this book since it's just been a wealth of information and I think I will refer back to it often. Mindy's already benefited from a couple of remedies the book suggested for her irritable tummy.

more »

Comments (1)
Posted in Reading List, Reviewing

Only ONE book!

I swear I am not getting lazy although I must say that I am having a hard time keeping up with work taking up so much of my time of late. Also, my library books were all overdue and there was not much that I felt like re-reading from my library. Except for this book, Kitchen Confidential.

This is one of my all time favourite books for many reasons. When I was in university, I spent about three years bartending and waitressing. After all, it was the only job that a university student could have that made relatively decent money. A lot of times, chefs depicted on Food Network are clean, polite and usually boring. This book really deals with the realities of restaurant life and truly depicts what "lifers" in the business are like. I also love that Anthony Bourdain never hides his absolute love and curiosity about food. In my ideal world, I would have loved to have been his assistant when he travelled and ate his way around the world.

Whenever I read this book, I am reminded of all the funny and interesting people I have met, the insanity of chefs and I do really think back on those days as the "glory days." All the wait staff and chefs I met were all pretty quirky characters. There are days when I really miss it but I know that there is no going back. That, and I would have most likely been a raging alcoholic by now. Somehow, it always went hand in hand. You always went out with your mates for that extra pint after.

Working at a restaurant has taught me so much how to interact with different people and work under pressure. These are lessons that you can never teach to someone. In many ways, the experience has definitely molded part of my personality today. I can always tell if someone has ever worked in the service industry. There is a self confidence that radiates from those who enjoyed their experiences there. I'll be sure to kick my kid towards a restaurant job when it's their time, as I really do believe it's a wonderful life lesson.

Comments (2)
Posted in Reading List, Reviewing

I have been remiss with posting what I've been reading. It's been a really insane time and I've been a little loathe to be on the computer.

Marie gave me When The Elephants Dance and as always, she has impeccable reading taste. She always forces me beyond my reading comfort zone and introduces new genres or topics to me. This one was about Filipinos during the Japanese occupation of South East Asia during the second world war. It was particularly interesting to me because I don't have very many Filipino friends so I know very little about their background and culture.

In the midst of the horrors of war, there are folk stories that are told by the group of people. These stories are grounded in myth and history and I loved how they are tales of hope and courage. This book was truly a wonderful journey and for brief moments in time, I was transported to a completely different place. I love books that do that.

Now I'm off to check Lisa's thoughts on what's been happening with the Barnacle family. I am so behind all my blog reading.

Comments (0)
Posted in Reading List

Some more literary friends often bemoan that I am apt to read fluff. I read the way I eat -- I like to sample a bit of everything. Fluff has its uses like all things such as; cleaning the palate of the mind for a more serious book, providing brief levity without being taxing, wasting time at airports.

I always wish that there was a boy lit genre. Ever since I was young I have always had the privilege to be privy to inner boys' talk. I think it's because I am a die hard tom boy with girl sensibilities. Guy friends feel confident that they can confess without the usual judgements and get a girl's perspective at the same time. I am often bemused by the boys and really, in some ways they have more drama in their lives than we women expect. It would make good reading and I am just throwing this out there for budding male authors looking for an idea.

Just remember to give me some credit if you gain any success.

more »

Comments (0)
Posted in Reading List, Reviewing

Tsk! Tsk! Only three books read this week. I am never going to get to my personal goal of trying to read (this includes my re-reads) of three hundred books this year. Why three hundred? Seems like a reasonable number. That, and it's divisible by the prime numbers 3 and 5.

Have I ever mentioned my weird obsession with numbers? I break phone numbers, birthdays, social insurance number, any type of series of numbers by making little math quizzes in my head. Once it's broken down, I never forget it. I think in my past life I was a wannabe mathematician.

more »

Comments (4)
Posted in Reading List, Reviewing

So I didn't quite get to my 6 book goal before the end of the year but it is what it is. Marie's been trying to get me to read Murakami since we first met. For some reason, I've always resisted and I finally read Norwegian Wood this past week. The book was quite simply astounding. So complex and beautifully written about love and loss.

more »

Comments (1)
Posted in Reading List

That's it. I am DONE.

We had my grandmother's annual birthday/Christmas dinner yesterday and the amount of food prepared and consumed was ridiculous. My stomach is now so stretched out that it requires food every 2 hours because that's what it's been used to for the past couple of weeks.

Then I get home and there seems to be some back to back showing of Madonna's latest two tours on our local music station. I remember going to her "Re-Inventions" tour and thinking,"How the heck does the woman do it for two or more hours? I mean she's in her late forties for Pete's sake and she has a better body than I ever did when I was sixteen!"

Madge always makes me want to work out. And so that's what I'm doing.

Tomorrow.

In the meantime, I've decided to keep a visual reading list of books I've read per week because it's handy. You know how sometimes, you forget what books you've already read? And you get all disappointed because you've settled down for a big read and you've already read it and didn't even like it the first time round? That's what just happened to me.

Comments (1)
Posted in Randomness, Reading List