Book Review: The Reading Group

I just finished Elizabeth Noble's The Reading Group (I was determined to finish it tonight so that it would count as my 4th book in November). I picked this up at Chapters a few weeks ago because it was in the bargain section and well, look at the title!! The Reading Group is about a small group of women who all at least sort of know each other, who meet up once a month  to -you guessed it!- have a book club. I miss my Toronto book club terribly. I really miss reading a book and discussing it with people, but mostly I miss the women!! After meeting on a monthly basis for a few years I was getting to be really close with some of the members and I miss their friendship so much! Ok back to the book...it was told from the different voices of the women in the group as well as some of the significant people in their lives. These women dealt with everything you can think of over the course of a year...love, loss, betrayal, pregnancy, weddings, sickness, death...you name it and it happened to at least one of these women. A light easy but engrossing read-I do recommend it!

What we're reading

I have been reading for myself a little bit lately, but most of my reading these days is to Félix, and although I know I can read anything to him at this point, it's more fun reading kids books. We read a few books a few times a day, and Dave usually spends some time each day reading to him too. Félix will sit and listen and try to touch the pages, and grab them if he can. Surprisingly at 5 months he does have a few books that he prefers, and others that he doesn't really care about. Ok without further ado then, this is what we've been reading lately:

Good Morning World and Good Night World

This is Félix's absolutely favourite book. We read it every morning and as soon as he sees it he gets super excited and makes all kinds of sounds and wants to touch it the whole time. As I mentioned we bought this in Vancouver and it's also one of my favourite's. The artwork is gorgeous, with lots of bright colours and simple fun (and educational) text (ie:Good morning whales playing and singing in a pod). Good Night World is also enjoyable, but for the same reasons but there's something about the morning version that Félix seems to like best.

Goodnight Moon

 

 Does anybody not love this book? This is one of  Félix favourite night time reads. I mean, seriously, how can you not love "...and the quiet old lady whispering hush"? She kind of creeps me out to be honest,but I that's what I love about her!! I also love the page  that says "Goodnight nobody". That's just great. We picked up a book while on vacation in Nova Scotia that is loosely based on Goodnight Moon (and it's pretty good too).


A Porcupine in a Pine Tree

I saw this book a few times and finally decided to buy it this weekend. It's awesome!! It's a Canadian take on a Partridge in a Pear Tree. I love the drawings and Félix loves the singing aspect, especially "Five Stanley Cups!". You can also buy a really cute porcupine toy, but we didn't because we have  lots and lots of stuffed toys...but it is super cute!


Simon et les Flocons de Neige

We picked up this beauty from the library.  I love love love the illustrations and it's a nice easy read for me-I can speak french, but it isn't always pretty. I don't think Félix really cares much about this one though.


Last but not least, my parents brought a few more french books for us (they are super hard to find even at the Chapter's here in Red Deer-where there is no French section!!)...

Le plus beau des bonhommes

This one is extra fun because the snowman (bonhomme) is shimmery. The first time we read this book Félix  could have cared less about the shimmery bits, but now he likes to touch them. I find that most ""touch and feel" books don't have big enough spots for him to touch so he usually misses out, and he usually doesn't appreciate it if I try to help him out!

Do you have children's books you'd recommend that are either Christmas or winter themed?

Canada Reads 2012

I love Canada Reads, and for the past 2 years I have tried to read all the books. I did so in 2010, but  I only read a few last year but ended up bailing out early. This year I am not going to attempt it. "Why not?" you may ask, and I will answer, because I don't have time!!! I still read a little bit every day, but I don't really have the time to read like I used to (no 45 minute commute...oh and that baby takes up a lot of time too!!).

I will however continue to follow Canada Reads 2012 and maybe for the first time ever, I may actually listen to the debates instead of just reading about them online!!

This year's finalists and defenders are:

- Alan Thicke defends The Game by Ken Dryden
- Stacey McKenzie defends On a Cold Road by Dave Bidini
-Arlene Dickinson defends Prisoner of Tehran by Mariana Nemet ** I've actually been meaning to read this book for a while so I MAY read this one!
- Shad defends Something Fierce by Carmen Aguirre
-Anne-France Goldwater defends The Tiger by John Vaillant