Sad News

Last weekend we packed up the girls and headed over to my sisters place to celebrate my nephew's birthday. It was a beautiful day, the sun was hot, there was a light breeze and there was the prospect of cake and ice cream.

As well as watching my nephew squirm in his new Vancouver Canucks T-shirt (he's an Oilers Fan) the day was also marked by the arrival of a fire truck and then the search and rescue hovercraft on the river in front of my sisters place. News spread in her small neighborhood that someone had seen someone fall or jump (which one it was, was not clear) off the railway bridge that goes across the Fraser River. The afternoon was filled with the sound of the giant engine on the river and talk turned to why someone would be on the train bridge, how the rescue was going, if it was a rescue at all with how swift the current is in that area of the river and then we had cake.

I've mentioned it here at least once that the husband (Lyle) recently joined a band who has just released an EP. He first had visions of making a record and playing the Whiskey in LA when he was a teenager. Since joining the band he's seeing those dreams come true (he's playing the Whiskey in August as well as a number of other notable clubs in the area) and within weeks of joining The Twitch, he was in the studio for the very first time laying down tracks on bass lines  had written. Not only that but he was doing it with Todd Simko the guitarist for the 90's band Pure. Recording with someone who the husband had listened to on his discman on perpetual repeat while in college was both daunting and such an amazing experience for Lyle. Amazing because Todd was a genius at what he did and because Lyle walked away from the experience feeling like he had grown leaps and bounds as a musician.

On Thursday Lyle got a message from his band's manager that Todd Simko had passed away. The news was shocking, even more shocking was the report that he had gone missing on Sunday and had been presumed drowned in the river while on a low level bridge near his home; which is across the water from where my sister lives. It hasn't been confirmed if search and rescue were out for him that day or if his drowning was accidental or not. Personally I don't think it's important, what is important is that Todd was a talented, caring father and husband any thing beyond that is just gossip. Lyle had met Todd's wife briefly while at his studio and we were both sad to think about what she and their daughter are going through right now. Having lost my Dad at a young age I can guess some of it.  It is obvious from all the tributes and posts that he was a wonderful person. We are keeping Todd, his wife, daughter and family in our thoughts; if you have a moment send some their way yourself.

The Start of an Epic Tale

as always for a better look click on the image above or here

A Thousand Words

Comes with a little music edition

Accidental Photograph

I know that not everyone is into this type of music but my husband's band just released their new ep last week. The Husband had a hand in writing two the songs and is currently hitting the road to help promote it. Take a listen and if you know someone who is into good old fashioned party rock pass it on.

Still Uncaptured

So one more down, I've finished the Translation of the Bones. The story was very much one about faith, belief and Love, particularly the varying types of love a mother feels for her children. There were some characters that I felt more of a connection to and others that I wished I could feel more connected too. Stella for instance. She for the most part of the book is somewhat standoffish with the exception for the the love she feels toward her children the book makes her seem to only truly be alive and invested when her children are near to her. The rest of the time she bites back her words and thoughts, keeping to the background.


Again, I'm thinking about the story but I'm not certain that it will be one of those stories that haunt my head long after the book is closed. So far I haven't been so totally absorbed in a book that tearing myself away from it has been difficult. Last year, of the books on the list I read there was only one book that I just couldn't get into. This year I'm finding it hard to engage myself into the reading. It's not that the books aren't good because so far they have a lot to recommend, I think on some level my head isn't in the right place for reading.

• Island of Wings by Karin Altenberg 
• On the Floor by Aifric Campbell 
• The Grief of Others by Leah Hager Cohen - into the first Chapter
  
• The Sealed Letter by Emma Donoghue 
• Half Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan - Finished
• The Forgotten Waltz by Anne Enright
• The Flying Man by Roopa Farooki - Finished
• Lord of Misrule by Jaimy Gordon 
• Painter of Silence by Georgina Harding 
• Gillespie and I by Jane Harris 
• The Translation of the Bones by Francesca Kay- Finished
  
• The Blue Book by A.L. Kennedy 
• The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - Finished
  
• The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
• Foreign Bodies by Cynthia Ozick - Finished
• State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
• There but for the by Ali Smith
• The Pink Hotel by Anna Stothard
• Tides of War by Stella Tillyard - On deck
• The Submission by Amy Waldman  - On deck

What are you reading?

As often happens when I have a huge pile of books I want to read I get diverted. I finished The Night Circus and while I loved the imagery and the idea of it the story just didn't meet up with the expectations of the description on the cover. I was also a little disappointed by the lack of depth to the characters but I am willing to over look it as well since Erin Morgenstern does  claim that her work is based in fairy tales and in any fairytale I have ever read the main character is somewhat glossed over in favour of moving the tale along. This works well in a piece of short fiction but in a novel length work I left the book feeling that there was a lack in the story. Having said that I agree with my fellow Orange Prize Reader and partner in this crazy reading adventure, that it would make a great movie.

• Island of Wings by Karin Altenberg 
• On the Floor by Aifric Campbell 
• The Grief of Others by Leah Hager Cohen - into the first Chapter
  
• The Sealed Letter by Emma Donoghue 
• Half Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan - Finished
• The Forgotten Waltz by Anne Enright
• The Flying Man by Roopa Farooki - Finished
• Lord of Misrule by Jaimy Gordon 
• Painter of Silence by Georgina Harding 
• Gillespie and I by Jane Harris 
• The Translation of the Bones by Francesca Kay- half way done
  
• The Blue Book by A.L. Kennedy 
• The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - Nearly Done
  
• The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
• Foreign Bodies by Cynthia Ozick - Finished
• State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
• There but for the by Ali Smith
• The Pink Hotel by Anna Stothard
• Tides of War by Stella Tillyard - On deck
• The Submission by Amy Waldman  - On deck

I did have a number of books that I had planned on starting after the Circus but as I said with a number of books to choose from the book I had thought to be well into is sitting in my bedside table and one that wasn't even listed as on deck last week is almost done.


I've started the Grief of Others and the prologue is breathtakingly beautiful and painful all at once. As the basis for what the rest of the book is built on I have high hopes for it. The Mother, having just given birth holds on to her newborn, refusing anyone else to hold him, she listens to his breaths and wishes to capture a breath in a tiny glass jar as her baby will not survive the day. The rest of the book tells the story of how the family deals with this loss.


Before I had a chance to continue with Grief I picked up Translation of the Bones and was immediately drawn in. I'm 100 pages in and finding myself invested in the characters and their lives. I'm not sure how deep they will embed themselves in my psyche but the subject is interesting to me as the Catholic Church and it's rituals are to be honest a mystery to me. What could possibly be a miracle that takes place in a small community's catholic chapel is the center from which the story flows outwards; the ideas of faith and belief are main themes.


Are you reading along the list too?

Thinking Inside The Box

Because Joseph Cornell gives me goosebumps.

Nearly Done The Night Circus and A Paper Doll-o-rama

One of my good friends and fellow Orange readers found Erin Morgenstern' s the Night Circus disappointing, she refused to say much more than that and I'm hoping once I've finished we can have a really good chat about it. I really love our book talks I get to feel like I'm using my brain for something other than making up songs about changing diapers and I get somebody's perspective on a book, which is like working within a group of artists, there's an energy that builds when ideas and thoughts get bounced around. It can really get your brain going.

I'm nearly done "Circus"myself and while my thoughts on the book are still being processed; (the two main characters are fairly glossed over; the book as a whole reads as a longish fairytale, the circus itself reads like a fantastical art performance piece and I would love to see it in person) I've been finding excuses to get back to the book at every opportunity. Once I'm done I've got a big stack of books that snuck into my holds when I wasn't paying attention  that I've got to get to. 

• Island of Wings by Karin Altenberg 
• On the Floor by Aifric Campbell 
• The Grief of Others by Leah Hager Cohen - On deck
• The Sealed Letter by Emma Donoghue 
• Half Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan - Finished
• The Forgotten Waltz by Anne Enright
• The Flying Man by Roopa Farooki - Finished
• Lord of Misrule by Jaimy Gordon 
• Painter of Silence by Georgina Harding 
• Gillespie and I by Jane Harris 
• The Translation of the Bones by Francesca Kay
• The Blue Book by A.L. Kennedy 
• The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - Nearly Done
  
• The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
• Foreign Bodies by Cynthia Ozick - Finished
• State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
• There but for the by Ali Smith
• The Pink Hotel by Anna Stothard
• Tides of War by Stella Tillyard - On deck
• The Submission by Amy Waldman  - On deck

And reading isn't the only thing that's been taking over my attention. We've decided to go with a "Using Your Imagination" party theme for the Peanut's 6th birthday. (she really can't be six already, I'm serious, her being six is just about breaking my heart) With the husband not working a regular job, getting more creative with our party planning is more important than ever. So far we have plans for all the large moving boxes that have been in storage in our shed; hide and go seek with boxes in the back yard, box tag an making a fort are all on the program as is dress up and an art table. I've been drawing paper dolls for each of our prospective guests; both boys and girls. The plan is to have a sheet of dress up options for them to colour and collage onto, with some robot, astronaut, dinosaur and fancy dress options. I've been using The Black Apple's Paper Doll  Primer as a jumping point and I'll be using some tracing paper to get the outfits to fit just right. Having a scanner/printer handy is going to make the whole process a lot of fun.

I've also been getting a little painting done for the husband's stomp box venture. I'll write about that soon, with all the links and exciting details.

A Thousand Words

A few weeks ago I made my way home and took this.
I love me a crescent moon

Another One Off the List

For some reason (personally I'm going with the theory that a one year old is not conducive to long periods of reading) I'm not getting through the books as fast as I'd like to but I've finished another, about three chapters in on one more and have three more ready to be picked up from the library.

Roopa Farooki's The Flying Man was a pretty good story. I read it in fits and starts, but when I was reading I was absorbed. The main character seems to have a split personality having been born the surviving twin of a still born brother in effect he has stolen the life force of his brother in the womb. He becomes throughout his life the charming grifter, making no firm attachments leaving a trail of wives and friends in his wake as he easily walks out the door without notice or farewells. (with the constant companion he refers to as my, he and we; perhaps the spirit of his twin who he carries in his head and speaks aloud to when he is alone)  finally ending up alone in a discount hotel presumably writing his life story for someone to find. As a character he isn't very likable and I found the characters of his family much more interesting. The parallel ending between our heroes death and his sun's movement forward with his life and how different each ones life was based on their choices was a perfect closing to the book.

I'm not sure that this book will cling to my brain but it was a good story.

• Island of Wings by Karin Altenberg 
• On the Floor by Aifric Campbell 
• The Grief of Others by Leah Hager Cohen - On deck
• The Sealed Letter by Emma Donoghue 
• Half Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan - Finished
• The Forgotten Waltz by Anne Enright
• The Flying Man by Roopa Farooki - Finished
• Lord of Misrule by Jaimy Gordon 
• Painter of Silence by Georgina Harding 
• Gillespie and I by Jane Harris 
• The Translation of the Bones by Francesca Kay
• The Blue Book by A.L. Kennedy 
• The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - Reading Now
  
• The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
• Foreign Bodies by Cynthia Ozick - Finished
• State of Wonder by Ann Patchett
• There but for the by Ali Smith
• The Pink Hotel by Anna Stothard
• Tides of War by Stella Tillyard - On deck
• The Submission by Amy Waldman  - On deck

 While I was about half through Flying Man, I  started on Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus. I'm finding the tone to be somewhat similar to China Miéville. I'm enjoying it so far but then I'm a sucker for stories about magic. Are you reading along? Which book are you reading, what do you think of it?