Sunday, March 27, 2011

The Sentimentalists

The Sentimentalists by Johanna Skibsrud.

This Cake is for the Party


Summary
About a woman trying to learn about her father's experience in the Vietnam War during his final days.

Source
This book was the 2010 Giller Prize Winner.

My thoughts
I have to admit that I struggled reading this book. I wanted to enjoy it, being the Giller Prize winner and all but I had a really hard time getting into it. As well, I think the character who appealed the most to me, the daughter, didn't have much of a plot. I wasn't really interested in the father, or his experiences in Vietnam. It probably doesn't help that I have no interest in anything war related.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

This Cake is for the Party

This Cake is for the Party by Sarah Selecky.

This Cake is for the Party


Summary
A compilation of 10 short stories.

Source
This book was shortlisted for the Giller Prize.

My thoughts
I have to admit that whenever I heard about this book, I kept hoping food, specifically cake, was involved. Not quite. While some of the the short stories were published separately, there is a running theme of interpersonal relationships.

The book started strong with Throwing Cotton (my favourite), which ended with the character potentially throwing her whole life in the air, or not. Watching Atlas ends with one of the character making a decision that could potentially throw someone else's life in the air. How Healthy Are You? peaked my interest at the beginning but I was disinterested by the main plot. Go-Manchura was one of the sad stories I thought, with the main character feeling lost and struggling to figure out her life in a rather pathetic way. Standing Up for Janey, again makes you feel good about your life in comparison!

Where Are You Coming from Sweetheart? was just a sad little story; sometimes you get what you want out of life in a less than ideal way. Prognosis and Paul Farenbacker's Yard Sale were meant to be touching but left me rather indifferent. This is How We Grow as Humans I could relate to, about getting what you thought you wanted and it not quite turning the way you thought it would. Finally, One Thousand Was Buddhas ends the book on a sad ending.

Is it wrong that I feel lucky that my life isn't as screwed up as the characters in these stories?