In My World

Our Grandmothers, Ourselves:  Reflections of Canadian Women,  edited by Gina Valle is an amazing collection of stories by women from various backgrounds, economic status and ethnicities.  Grandaughters share the stories of their grandmothers and the affect these women had on their own lives. It is sometimes funny, sometimes surprising and always touching. This is a must read for all women . . . Canadian or not. That's all I'm going to say. Gina Valle: "The grandmother-granddaughter relationship has undergone little examination in literature. In this collection, the portrayal of the grandmother is multidimensional - as woman, feminist, keeper of our first language and culture. These stories affirm that cultural heritage is manifested through language, food, storytelling, music, religion, holistic healing and symbols. Owing to our grandmothers’ presence in our lives, these rich traditions will be preserved for yet another generation. Many of us were first awakened to...

I read Breaking Thru the Fibro Fog  by Kevin P. White MD PhD.  Dr. White is a  Rheumatologist and Epidemiologist practicing in London ON who has spent many years studying what many people think is the recent phenomena of Fibromyalgia.  Dr. White believes this condition has actually been around for centuries but misdiagnosed and misunderstood.  In fact Dr. White suggests that fibromyalgia may be similar to missing limb syndrome, a problem with the nerves in the body not shutting off when they should.  (okay this is a very very simplified version of what he suggests) I have lived with this condition for many years . . . many many years . . . and most of that time has been spent learning to deal with it on my own since I've never been able to get a referral to someone like Dr. White or much help from my family physician.  But through research and trial and error I have learned to make the most of my life.  Sometimes this condition can be so fru...

I went to the library in person to order Beverley McLachlin's Full Disclosure and make sure I received the right one.  It was sitting on the shelf so I grabbed it and ran . . .  It was an excellent read, enjoyed by all . . . which was nice . . . except that it made for a boring conversation at book club.  There was wine though.  

The Wife's Tale  by Lori Lansens is definitely a good read.  My hand isn't working well yet this morning so I'll just leave you with this published review . . .  Library Journal Review Mary Gooch is beyond shock when her husband leaves the night before their silver anniversary party. Jimmy Gooch has always loved her, but with each new trauma-two early miscarriages, her father's death, even the loss of her feral cat-Mary has felt less worthy of his affection and more hungry. Now weighing 302 pounds, Mary can't seem to move past her malaise. Finding $25,000 in their bank account, Mary flies, for the first time, from their small Canadian town to her mother-in-law's home in Southern California, determined to wait for her prodigal spouse. While there, she loses her appetite but discovers a measure of self-worth through the "kindness of strangers." VERDICT Lansens's (The Girls) portrait of a woman who hides behind the Kenmore as protection from ...

Room is a novel by Emma Donoghue. The story is told from the perspective of a five-year-old boy, Jack, who is being held captive in a small room along with his mother. I think Donoghue put a lot of though and effort into creating Jack's "voice." And just as the cover says, the book is absolutely riveting.  Room won or was nominated for many literary awards and has been made into a movie which released in 2015.  I have not yet seen the movie.