Book Review Refugees met Jan. 15 to discuss an interesting array of titles. Individuals reviewed the following:
1. Four Queens : the Provencal Sisters who ruled Europe, by Nancy Goldstone
2. Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer (MS)
3. Run, by Ann Patchett (JK)
4. Life on the Refrigerator Door, by Alice Kuipers
5. Raisin Wine : a boy hood in a different Muskoka (LM)
6. 44 Scotland Street, by Alexander McCall-Smith (KP)
7. Late Nights on Air, by Elizabeth Hay (ME)
8. Pontoon : a Lake Wobegon novel, by Garrison Keillor (SK)
We meet again on February 19.
We didn't discuss books in December. Instead JK and IK made us a lovley dinner!
The November titles were:
November 6 , 2007
1. The Almost Moon, by Alice Sebold (MS)
2. October, by Richard B. Wright (JK)
3. Girls of Riyadh, by Rajaa Alsema (LM)
4. Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict, by Laurie Viera Rigler (KP)
5. Austenland, by Shannon Hale (KP)
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
The Virgin Blue
Has anyone one of you read, The Virgin Blue by Tracy Chevalier? I'm struggling with it. It just doesn't intrigue me like her other works.
Maybe my cold is taking its tole...
Maybe my cold is taking its tole...
Monday, January 15, 2007
The Dressmaker
Since I can't join the fun tomorrow, here is my review. I believe it has been discussed before, but I think it deserved another plug:
This debut novel, The Dressmaker by Elizabeth Birkelund Oberbeck, tells the tale of Claude Reynaud: an old-fashioned dressmaker working in a cluttered studio outside of Paris. Every spring, brides descended upon his studio, where he measures them, and listens to their design requests. It becomes evident, that one of his greatest strengths is colour. He can identify a bride’s ideal colour and the corresponding fabric using a litany of creative descriptors. His simple life is shattered one day when a young woman arrives who consigns him to design her a wedding dress. This charming, beautiful, lady of society, gives Reynaud complete freedom in the dresses design. He was inspired by her lithe figure, a long, graceful neck, and simple, elegant style. The forty-six years old tailor, who was deserted by his wife eight years earlier, finds himself infatuated. His life is redirected his creative energies to his new muse and joins a Paris design house. He quickly goes from being a small town tailor with a growing client base to a celebrated “couturier.”
This was an enjoyable and whimsical read. Oberbeck’s description of colour and fabric is entrancing as the reader experiences the creative process of fashion design. This could be considered a companion piece to “The Devil Wears Prada” where the designer side of the fashion business is explored.
This debut novel, The Dressmaker by Elizabeth Birkelund Oberbeck, tells the tale of Claude Reynaud: an old-fashioned dressmaker working in a cluttered studio outside of Paris. Every spring, brides descended upon his studio, where he measures them, and listens to their design requests. It becomes evident, that one of his greatest strengths is colour. He can identify a bride’s ideal colour and the corresponding fabric using a litany of creative descriptors. His simple life is shattered one day when a young woman arrives who consigns him to design her a wedding dress. This charming, beautiful, lady of society, gives Reynaud complete freedom in the dresses design. He was inspired by her lithe figure, a long, graceful neck, and simple, elegant style. The forty-six years old tailor, who was deserted by his wife eight years earlier, finds himself infatuated. His life is redirected his creative energies to his new muse and joins a Paris design house. He quickly goes from being a small town tailor with a growing client base to a celebrated “couturier.”
This was an enjoyable and whimsical read. Oberbeck’s description of colour and fabric is entrancing as the reader experiences the creative process of fashion design. This could be considered a companion piece to “The Devil Wears Prada” where the designer side of the fashion business is explored.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
December
Instead of reviewing different books, we reviewed the different dishes of Chinese food. It was an evening of light banter, casual discussion and catching up. The festive season was taking its toll on everyone -- fewer books were read than normal.
One participant had already eaten -- a ruse so that she could control the conversation. She talked about Bloodletting and Other Miraculous Cures, and gave it good reviews.
I can't wait to see what everyone is going to review for January 16. I expect a number of us had time to read over the holidays.
I have to end here. Moral Disorder is beckoning.
One participant had already eaten -- a ruse so that she could control the conversation. She talked about Bloodletting and Other Miraculous Cures, and gave it good reviews.
I can't wait to see what everyone is going to review for January 16. I expect a number of us had time to read over the holidays.
I have to end here. Moral Disorder is beckoning.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
An overview from October 17
Missed October's get together? Here are the titles that were discussed. It was a small but intimate group.
From October 17 , 2006
1. Burden of Memory, Vicki Delany (an Oakville author) (LM)
2. The Greek for Love, James Chatto (an Evergreen choice) (JK)
3. The Dressmaker, Elizabeth Berke Oberbeck (SK)
4. Dear Zoo, Rod Campbell (a special favourite of Liam) (ME)
From October 17 , 2006
1. Burden of Memory, Vicki Delany (an Oakville author) (LM)
2. The Greek for Love, James Chatto (an Evergreen choice) (JK)
3. The Dressmaker, Elizabeth Berke Oberbeck (SK)
4. Dear Zoo, Rod Campbell (a special favourite of Liam) (ME)
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