Canadian Spotlight Month Recap and Thanks

The entire month of July has been dedicated to all things Canadian here at Ramblings of a Daydreamer. With Canada Day on July 1st, I decided it would be the perfect time to kick off both the Canadian Reading Challenge and the Canadian Spotlight Month. All month long I've shone the spotlight on Canadian authors, bloggers, celebrities, and cities. I've had giveaways for over a dozen books, mostly donated by wonderfully generous authors and bloggers. It's been a crazy month, but I've had a lot of fun, and I've loved hearing such positive feedback from fellow bloggers. Thank you all!

I'd like to say a huge thank you to the following authors for contributing to Canadian Spotlight Month with guest posts, interviews, and/or giveaways.

Leah Bobet

Melanie Cusick-Jones

Kelley Armstrong

Sarah Mlynowski

Alyxandra Harvey

Linda Poitevin

Kevin Harkness

Allison Cosgrove 

And I'd also like to say a very big thank you to these amazing bloggers for contributing:

Sarah from Workaday Reads

Rachelia from Bookish Comforts

Chrystal from Snowdrop Dreams of Books

I feel incredibly blessed to have had the opportunity to work with such incredible people this month. You've all been a joy, and I'm so grateful to you for sharing your love of Canada!

Today is the last day to enter 8 of the 9 giveaways that are part of Canadian Spotlight Month. The 9th giveaway ends at the end of the week. Be sure to check them out and enter! Also be sure to read the 'giveaway details' for what countries they're open to - most are international.  :-)

Here's a recap of all the posts from this month:

July 1st: The Canadian Reading Challenge Review Link-Up

July 2nd: Did You Know…? Fun Facts About Canada

July 3rd: Canadian Author Spotlight: Leah Bobet + a Giveaway

July 4th: My Top 6 Favourite Canadian Authors
July 5th: Book Review + Giveaway: Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery
July 6th: Guest Post by Melanie Cusick-Jones + a Giveaway 
July 7th: My Favourite Places in Canada
Day 8: Review - The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong
Day 9: Canadian Blogger Spotlight: Sarah from Workaday Reads talks hometown authors + a giveaway
Day 10: Review - Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey
Day 11: Review - Gimme a Call by Sarah Mlynowski
Day 12: Canadian Hottie Spotlight
Day 13: Mini-review + giveaway: Facing Facts by Kelley Armstrong
Day 14: Blogger Guest Post: Rachelia from Bookish Comforts Talks Recommended Canadian Reads
Day 15: Review - Unraveling Isobel by Eileen Cook
Day 16: Blue Sky Days 6-month Anniversary Sale 
Day 17: Canadian Author Spotlight: Sarah Mlynowski + a Giveaway

Day 18: Chrystal from Snowdrop Dreams Talks About Kingston, Ontario
Day 19: Review - The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong
Day 20: Review + Giveaway - The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong
Day 21: Review - Blood Feud by Alyxandra Harvey
Day 22: Alyxandra Harvey's 5 Favourite Canadian Authors + a Giveaway
Day 23: Review: This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers
Day 24: Linda Poitevin Talks About Ottawa + a Giveaway
Day 25: Review - The Lighter Side of Life and Death by C.K. Kelly Martin
Day 26: Canada in Books by Non-Canadians
Day 27: Interview with Canadian author Kevin Harkness
Day 28: Canadian Music Spotlight
Day 29: Canadian Comedy Spotlight
Day 30: Canadian Author Spotlight: Allison Cosgrove

 

Review Copy Cleanup #2 & NetGalley Knockout

After my month-long Canadian Spotlight Month and reading mostly books by Canadian authors, I'm behind in my review books, so I thought I'd sign up for round two of Review Copy Cleanup hosted by Vicky at Books, Biscuits, and Tea, and Celine from Nyx Book Reviews. 

I've also signed up for NetGalley Knockout hosted by Goldilox and the Three Weres. I figured this would be extra incentive to get those NetGalley books read since I'm so slow with ebooks!

The books I currently have for review:

Kissing Shakespeare by Pamela Mingle (from NetGalley)

Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill (from NetGalley)

Love and Other Perishable Items by Lauren Buzo (from NetGalley)

Velveteen by Daniel Marks (from NetGalley)

Cicada by Belle Whittington (from the author)

Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft by Jody Gerhman (from the author)

So Damn Lucky by Deborah Coonts (from the publisher)

I highly doubt I'll get all these read since all but one are ebooks and I have to read ebooks on the computer which is a huge pain in the butt, and also the reason it takes me so long to read review books. I'll do my best! I'd really like to get caught up, which is (obviously) why I decided to participate in both these events. Thanks to the lovely hosts for doing this!

Are you participating? Let me know and we can cheer each other on!

 

Canadian Author Spotlight: Allison Cosgrove

Today I'm pleased to introduce you all to the final Canadian author of the month. Allison Cosgrove is a newly published author, and she's here today to talk to us about her love of - and pride in - Canada!

I AM CANADIAN!

A Guest Post by Allison Cosgrove

Just wanted to put it out there that I am Canadian and I am proud. I have been a part of this fair country's fabric for over thirty years now and have had the joy of experiencing much of the beauty of it.

The beauty is not just in the land itself however it goes further than that.

Don't get me wrong I can show you places I have gone as a child and as an adult that will take your breath away with the perfection. For example just two weekends ago I stood on the edge of a cliff and stared out over the vast expanse of Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario and tears came to my eyes. Not because I am a sap that thinks a bunch of trees and a few lakes are pretty but rather because no matter how horrible the world outside may have been, no matter what the horrors, in there at that moment - everything was at peace.

Let's not even get me started on the beauty of Cape Breton in Nova Scotia or we will be here for the rest of the day. Canada as a physical land is beautiful. Period.

As wonderful and special that is however I whole heartedly believe that the real beauty of our country lies in the people themselves. Now I don't mean those fools you hear about in the news or the tabloids. I mean the people you don't hear about. The everyday people.

The new mom, the old grandfather. The new comer, the first-second-third generation. The person who smiles as they walk by for no reason, the person ahead of you in the drive through that buys your coffee. The one who opens the door for you, the one who helps someone across the street. The young entrepreneur, the retired.

The people from every corner of the world.

That my dear friends is what makes my country - my home - so wonderful.

About Allison: Allison Cosgrove was born and raised in a suburb of Toronto, Ontario. A married mother of three daughters, she works in accounting by day and creates her own worlds by night. She enjoys spending time with her husband and daughters hiking in the woods or sitting by the fire reading a good book. She has had the love of reading and writing detective mysteries from the age of twelve but it has only been since the birth of her youngest that she has gotten serious about crafting some of her own works for others to enjoy. She credits her family and friends with being the driving force that has given her the strength to breathe life into her books.

Find Allison online:

{Website || GoodReads}

{GoodReads || Amazon} 

A cult has been killing children for its rituals and only one cop knows who they are. Detective Stan Brookshire knows but his past keeps people from believing in him. Can he rise above the stigma that shrouds his past and stop a cult from taking yet another innocent child from her mother’s arms before its too late? 

I couldn't agree more with that Canadian pride! I feel very blessed to live in such a wonderful country. We're known for our kindness and hospitality, and I can definitely think of worse things to be known for! Plus the natural beauty, of course - Canada really is a stunningly beautiful country. Thank you for being here today, Allison, and for sharing your love of this great country!

What do you love most about your country? What makes you proud to be from that country?

 

This post has been part of the Canadian Spotlight Month. Click the graphic below to check out the schedule and all things Canadian here at Ramblings of a Daydreamer. 

Canadian Spotlight Month: Canadian Comedians

Other than Canadian authors and bloggers, this month I've also spotlighted Canadian Hotties and Canadian Musicians. Today I'm spotlighting Canadian Comedians; just like we've produced some incredibly talented (and hot!) actors, actresses, and musicians, we've also produced some hilarious and whacky comedians. Check out the list below!

Mike Myers
Best known for his roles in Wayne’s World, Austin Powers, and Shrek

Jim Carrey
Best known for his roles in Ace Ventura, The Mask, Dumb and Dumber, and Bruce Almighty

Howie Mandell
Best known as a stand-up comedian, as well as hosting Deal or No Deal

Colin Mochrie
Best known for his improvisational comedy on shows like Whose Line is it Anyway?, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, and Trust Us With Your Life

John Candy
1950-1994
Best known for his roles in The Great Outdoors, Uncle Buck, Cool Runnings, and Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

Dan Aykroyd
Best known for his roles in Saturday Night Live, Ghostbusters, and My Girl. He is a member of The Order of Canada

Martin Short
Best known for his roles on Saturday Night Live, Father of the Bride, Father of the Bride Part II, and The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause

Leslie Nielsen
1926-2010 Best known for his roles in Airplane!, and the Naked Gun movies

Caroline Rhea
Best known for her stand-up comedy, as well as her role in Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and for hosting The Caroline Rhea Show (she replaced Rosie O’Donnell’s show) and The Biggest Loser.

Will Arnett
Best known for his roles in Arrested Development and 30 Rock

Eugene Levy
Best known for his role in the American Pie movies

Seth Rogen
Best known for his roles in Pineapple Express, Knocked Up, and Superbad

Tom Green
Best known for The Tom Green Show, and roles in Freddy Got Fingered, and Road Trip

Rick Moranis
Best known for his roles in Ghostbusters, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Little Shop of Horrors, and The Flinstones

Who's your favourite Canadian comedian? Were you surprised by anyone on the list? Did I miss anyone?

 

This post has been part of the Canadian Spotlight Month. Click the graphic below to check out the schedule and all things Canadian here at Ramblings of a Daydreamer. 

Canadian Spotlight Month: Canadian Music

Just like Canada has produced some incredibly talented (and hot!) actors and actresses, we’ve also produced some amazing musical talent. We’re also known for our indie music, and for bands that start out indie and make a global splash.

Here's a list of some of Canada’s best musicians, songwriters, and bands. 

 

I'm not including pictures with this post, but the links lead to the musicians/bands official sites (or Twitter/Facebook/Wikipedia pages if they don't have an official site). I've also made a huge YouTube playlist with one song from each of these artists. I'd love for you to check it out!

Note: I struggled with how to do this list - so many musicians do crossover music, so it would be hard to group them by genre, so I decided to just do alphabetical order.

* = bands I've been lucky enough to see live 

Marie's Canadian Music Playlist

*Arcade Fire

Alanis Morissette

Alexisonfire

Anne Murray

Avril Lavigne

Barenaked Ladies

Bass is Base

Bedouin Soundclash

Blue Rodeo

Bryan Adams

Carly Rae Jepsen

Celine Dion

Chantal Kreviazuk

Choclair

City and Colour

*David Usher

Deadmau5

Diana Krall

Drake

Econoline Crush

Edwin

Fefe Dobson

Gordon Lightfoot

Great Big Sea

Guess Who, The

Hawksley Workman

I Mother Earth

Jann Arden

Johnny Reid

*Note, Johnny was born in Scotland, and if you’ve heard him speak, you’ve no doubt heard his super sexy Scottish accent, but he grew up here in Canada, and calls himself Canadian

Jully Black

Justin Bieber

Kardinal Offishall

KD Lang

Keshia Chante

K’Naan

K-OS

Kristilyn Robertson

Len

Leonard Cohen

Marianas Trench

Michael Buble

*Mobile

Moffatts, The

Moist

*Moka Only

Neil Young

Nelly Furtado

Nickleback

Our Lady Peace

*Philosopher Kings,The

*Pilot Speed (formerly known as Pilate)

*Rheostatics, The

Robin Thicke

Ron Sexsmith

Royal Wood
 

Rush

Sam Roberts Band

Sarah McLachlan

Sarah Slean
 
Shania Twain

*Shawn Desman

Simple Plan

Sky

Sloan

Soul Decision

Sum 41

*Swollen Members

Tea Party, The

*Tegan and Sara

These Kids Wear Crowns

Tom Cochrane

Tragically Hip, The

*Wintersleep

I mentioned the movie One Week when I was talking about Joshua Jackson in my Canadian Hotties post, and said that to me the whole movie is like a love song to Canada - the epicness that is this beautiful country, with a soundtrack of songs by Canadians. I'm seriously making it my mission in life to get everyone to see this movie, no matter where you're from. It is one of the best movies I've ever seen, but I only know a handful of people who have seen it because it was such a small indie movie. 

Who's your favourite Canadian band or musician? Were you surprised by anyone on the list? Did I miss anyone?

Be sure to check out my Canadian Hotties list from earlier in the month where I spotlight some of Canada's finest acting talent! There are pictures...go enjoy some eye candy! ;-)

 

This post has been part of the Canadian Spotlight Month. Click the graphic below to check out the schedule and all things Canadian here at Ramblings of a Daydreamer. 

Canadian Author Spotlight: Interview with Kevin Harkness

Today I have another Canadian author to introduce to you guys. Kevin Harkness is the author of City of Demons, which was just released Wednesday (July 25th). He's here today to tell us a bit about himself and his writing, so please help me give him a warm welcome! 

Marie: Thanks so much for being here today, Kevin! Why don’t we start with you telling us a bit about yourself?

Kevin: Thank you for inviting me! I’ve lived in the Vancouver area with my wife, Cecilia, and son, Thomas for about twenty years. Before that, I lived for shorter periods of time in many different places around Canada, the U.S. and China, so it’s been nice to settle down. I’m a classic late bloomer: I didn’t go to university until I was thirty and didn’t seriously start writing until my late forties. I’ve recently taken an early retirement from teaching (the only time I’ve been early in my life) so that I can concentrate on writing. That’s the statistical story. As for the other stuff, I have been fascinated by martial arts and Asian history since I saw “Five Fingers of Death” at a movie theatre in the Seventies. I read – though not as much as I used to or should – and walk around a lot waiting for ideas. More of my day is spent staring off into space than I should let on. 

Marie: You write science fiction, fantasy, and horror. What draws you to those genres?

Kevin: I think it stems from an early and abiding love of mythology. In fact, I don’t see much difference between that and speculative fiction. Watching Joseph Campbell’s work on PBS in the 1980s made me think deeply about mythology and the reasons we tell stories. The magic of fantasy and horror, and the (magic-like) science of most science fiction give you so many possibilities to bring to your writing. Don’t get me wrong; I like other genres, but to me, speculative fiction gives you the most latitude to tell your story. 

Marie: You had several careers before you became an author. Did you always want to be a writer, or was it something that just sort of happened?

Kevin: I always looked up to writers. They were my heroes. To think that someone could create a whole world like that was astounding to a teenager living in small-town Southwestern Ontario. I burned through the re-issues of Edgar Rice Burroughs, H.P. Lovecraft, and new books from Andre Norton and so many others. I loved stories, or more specifically, the effect of a story. Of course, I wanted to imitate my idols, but when I tried to write as a teen, the results were wretched. I needed to read and live a lot more.

So I did that. I took Karate classes, chased bears, and worked for a decade in the Canadian North. I also discovered Heinlein and Le Guin. I studied Chinese in Shanghai and had a cup of tea sitting on the Great Wall, and I read Journey to the West and William Gibson’s cyberpunk novels. I got married and had a child.  

The final push was teaching English classes in a secondary school. That really put a fire under me to start writing again. I had to understand how a story worked to explain it to a class. I compared, judged, and then rewrote things in my mind. Suddenly, reading became participatory rather than passive. Next, I started making up literary examples and even stories for my students. People read what I wrote and liked it. So I thought, why not? 

Marie: What has your journey to publication been like?

Kevin: Hard, until it got easy. I had novel and short story rejections from many publishers. One kept me on the hook for a whole year before saying no. I admit I was getting discouraged. Before Tyche Books picked up City of Demons, I had published only a single short story in a horror e-zine. Half the time I would want to quit writing and the other half I’d be gung-ho about sending off another story to die. I realize now how important it is to keep slogging, to not take rejections personally, or at least to not let them stop you. Since Tyche accepted my novel, it’s been very smooth. Margaret Curelas is a professional and supportive editor, and the whole team at Tyche is great. They held my hand through the traumatic process of sacrificing my prose on the altar of word count. It made for a better book.

Marie:  What/who inspires you most?

Kevin: If you mean who do I want to be when I grow up – and that better happen pretty fast, considering my age – Joseph Campbell is the first name that comes to mind. When he finished university, he decided he wasn’t ready for the world and retired to a cabin in the woods to read for years. That dedication to the intellectual life has always impressed me. He was a great teacher and philosopher, and he lived his life according to the principles he taught. 

If we are talking about writers, then I would have to say Ursula K. Le Guin and Haruki Murakami. Le Guin is a humane writer who never wastes words, and Murakami winds reality and fantasy together in a way that surpasses my imagination. 

Marie: What can we expect next from you?

Kevin: I do have a sequel or two in mind for City of Demons. Unfortunately, there are always three or four other half-written books on my mind at any one time. The one that nags me the most is an absurdist science fiction novel about the luckiest girl in the universe and the destruction of Earth. 

Marie: Since it’s Canadian Spotlight Month here at Ramblings of a Daydreamer, I’d like to ask you a couple of Canada-related questions.

Do you have a favourite Canadian author or book?

Kevin: Many!  Charles de Lint is a gem. His urban fantasies are brilliant, and I particularly love “The Mystery of Grace”, which is set in the American Southwest. Guy Gavriel Kay is a second pick. His book, “Under Heaven”, is an alternative, magical history of the conflicts in Tang Dynasty China. Because of my teaching and writing experience, I’m also a reader of YA fiction. Wendy Phillips, a friend and mentor, won the Governor General’s Award for “Fishtailing”, a story about four students on connected, dangerous trajectories – and she did it in poetry – and it works! How amazing is that?

Marie: What’s your favourite thing about Canada? Your favourite place?

Kevin: Maybe it’s just me, but I think we move around a lot up here.  I’ve lived in five provinces so far, and can’t name a favourite place. Too many to choose from. Sorry. My favourite thing about Canada is that we haven’t given up on the idea that a contentious country made up of First Nations and recent immigrants, of French- and English-speakers can still make the damn thing work. Oh, and the health care is nice too.

Thank you so much for taking the time to be here with us today, Kevin, it was a pleasure getting to know you better. I love learning about other writers' lives, histories, and writing processes, especially when they have such a varied, interesting background like yours!

About Kevin: Kevin Harkness is a Vancouver writer who has just finished a third career as a high-school teacher.  His first two careers: industrial 911 operator and late-blooming university student, were nowhere near as dangerous and exciting as teaching Grade 10s the mysteries of grammar and the joys of To Kill a Mockingbird.  He also taught Mandarin Chinese – but that’s another story.  Outside of family and friends, he has three passions: a guitar he can’t really play, martial arts of any kind from karate to fencing, and reading really good stories.  In this fourth career, as a writer, he attempts young adult fiction, science fiction, fantasy, and horror. 

Demons are invading the Midlands for the first time in centuries.

The farmers have no defences against the murderous creatures. Swords in the hands of ordinary soliders have no effect against demons, for the ability to resist a demon's power - a projection of paralyzing fear - cannot be taught.

Garet's life is forever changed the night his midlands family is attacked. Demonstrating a rare talent for resisting demon fear, Garet is taken to the city of Shirath to become a Demonbane: one who can withstand the demons' psychic assault, trained in combat, and learned in demon lore.

But the ancient city isn't a safe haven, it's a death trap. While opposing political forces vie for the throne, a new demon terrorizes the citizens. To save Shirath, Garet must find friends and allies quickly, because the biggest treat to the city isn't the demons, but the people living within the city's walls.

{Add City of Demons on GoodReads || Buy it on Amazon || Buy it from Tyche Books}

 *Thank you to Tyche Publishing for arranging this interview*

Be sure to check out Tyche Publishing, a Canadian small press specializing in science fiction and fantasy anthologies, novels, and related non-fiction.

{Website || Twitter || Facebook}

 

This post has been part of the Canadian Spotlight Month. Click the graphic below to check out the schedule and all things Canadian here at Ramblings of a Daydreamer. 

Canadian Spotlight Month: Canada in Books by Non-Canadians

It’s an unfortunate fact that not many books are set in Canada. The majority of Canadian authors I know set their books in the States or elsewhere, so it always excites me to find a book set in Canada. I think it excites me even more when the book is set in Canada, or mentions Canada in a favourable way when the author isn’t Canadian. 

It irritates me to no end when I’m reading a book or watching TV and hear people making derogatory comments about my beloved home country. If they’re joking, sure I might be able to laugh along, I like a good joke as much as the next person - but when they’re being serious, it really gets under my skin.

So today I wanted to spotlight three non-Canadian authors who talked about Canada in their books.

The first is Anna Dressed in Blood be Kendare Blake. I was absolutely shocked when I started reading this book and discovered it’s set in Thunder Bay, Ontario. I immediately looked up Kendare’s biography, and was surprised to find she’s not from Canada. Now, of course, I wish I had contacted her as part of Canadian Spotlight Month and asked her why she chose Thunder Bay to set this fantastic book. Not only is it a Canadian city, it’s not your typical Canadian city - books that mention Canada or are set in Canada usually spotlight a well-known city like Toronto or Ottawa or Montreal. The fact that it was set in Thunder Bay made made me enjoy the book even more. 

 

The next book is one that mentions Canada in a really cute, funny way. If you know me at all, you’ll know that Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins is one of my favourite books. I raved and gushed about it, and still do to this day. I felt like I giggled like a school girl through most of the book, and one spot that had me particularly delighted was when St. Clair gives Anna a Canada flag pin so she’ll feel like she fits in better.

Here’s the thing: when I was 17, I went to Paris on a school trip (Anna was also 17). Our group quickly discovered that Americans generally weren’t looked upon in a favourable light - I don’t mean any offense to Americans here, I love the States and I have a lot of good friends who are American, I’m just stating a fact. When we were out in groups, we could hear people mumbling about Americans, and when we told them we were Canadian, or when they saw our little Canada flag pins, they treated us better. So I thought it was hilarious and sweet and so endearing when St. Clair realized Anna was having trouble with the fact that she was sticking out as an American, so he got her a maple leaf pin to help her feel better.

He hands me a yellow padded envelope from his desk, and my stomach dances like it’s my birthday. I rip the package open. A small patch falls to the floor. It’s the Canadian flag.

I pick it up. “Um. Thanks?”

He tosses his hat onto his bed and rubs his hair. It flies up in all different directions. “It’s for your backpack, so people won’t think you’re American. Europeans are much more forgiving of Canadians.”

I laugh. “Then I love it. Thank you.”

“You aren’t offended?”

“No, it’s perfect.”

“I had to order it online, that’s why it took so long. Didn’t know where I could find one in Paris, sorry.” He fishes through a desk drawer and pulls out a safety pin. He takes the tiny maple leaf flag from my hands and carefully pins it to the pocket of my backpack. “There. You’re officially Canadian. Try not to abuse your new power.”

Anna and the French Kiss, pages 115-116

As if I wasn’t already in love with this book (and with St. Clair) I was a complete goner after that!

 

The next book that mentions Canada is The Single Girl’s To-Do List by Lindsey Kelk. In this book, the main character’s best friend is Canadian, and they talk about Canada throughout the story quite a bit, which was pretty cool. Then they visit Canada (Toronto and Niagara Falls specifically, two cities I’m been to countless times), but the descriptions annoyed me quite a bit.

For example, when the main character said Canadians were ‘almost offensively friendly’ and ‘I couldn’t remember the last time I’d said hello to so manner strangers’ I had to wonder what part of Toronto she was in. Although Canadians are known for our friendliness and hospitality, I’ve spent a lot of time in Toronto, and I wouldn’t necessarily say it was full of friendly people. More the type of people who keep their heads down or stare straight ahead, ignoring everyone around them. Or glare at you and look like they want to stab you and steal your wallet. 

Then she said that there was maple syrup in everything - such a cliché, and an untrue one at that. She made it sound like it was in literally everything on the menu. I very rarely - if ever - see maple syrup in anything, and I live here. And you know why you rarely see it? Because it costs more than gold! We may make it here, but it’s ridiculously expensive. It just seemed like she stuck together the most clichéd things she could come up with and threw them in for good measure. I know these things may seem random and petty to most people, but I’m sure if you stop and think, you can come up with clichés about your own country that drive you nuts, or that you find offensive.

I'd like to add in here that despite that, I really enjoyed this book! ;-)

So there you have it, three non-Canadian authors who talk about Canada in their books. Have you ever read a book that talked about your country in a nasty or cliché way? Do you live in a foreign country where it's rare to read a book set in your native land? Are you a fellow Canadian who gets excited when you discover a book that's either set here or mentions Canada?

 

This post has been part of the Canadian Spotlight Month. Click the graphic below to check out the schedule and all things Canadian here at Ramblings of a Daydreamer. 

Canadian Spotlight Month: Review - The Lighter Side of Life and Death by CK Kelly Martin

The Lighter Side of Life and Death by C.K. Kelly Martin

Series: Standalone

Published: May 25th, 2010

Publisher: Random House

231 pages (hardcover)

Genre: Contemporary young adult

Acquired this book: From the library

{GoodReads || Purchase this book: Book Depository || Amazon}

Sixteen-year-old Mason Rice is having the night of his life. He's just delivered an incredible performance in the school play, basked in celebratory afterglow vibes at the party of the year, and lost his virginity to one of his best friends—the gorgeous but previously unobtainable Kat Medina. His dreams are coming true, and the future looks golden.

Unfortunately, Kat sees things very differently. Crossing the friendship line was a big mistake, and all she wants is to forget it and move on, even if that means forgetting Mason altogether. What's a guy to do? Well, if you're Mason, you hang your hopes on the first attractive twenty-three-year-old you cross paths with. At first Mason wonders if he's imagining the chemistry . . . until Colette invites him over to her apartment. Suddenly Mason's living in a whole new world.

The Lighter Side of Life and Death reads kind of like a journal to me. It’s told from Mason’s perspective, and I have to say I love reading books that are told from a guy’s perspective. You get a totally different outlook on life, sex, friendship, and family. But in The Lighter Side of Life and Death, the reader gets a lot of minutiae, which is why it reads like a journal to me.

Not a lot happens in the story. Mason has quite a bit of depth, but I didn’t feel like there was much character development. I wasn’t able to connect with any of the other characters - they sort of felt like random extras who were thrown in when it was convenient to move the story along. The pacing was very slow, and even though the book was only 231 pages, it took me four days to read it because I just couldn’t get that interested.

One thing I liked was that it explored something that’s considered taboo - a relationship between a teenager and an older woman. Even though there was only a seven-year age gap between Mason and Colette, Mason was only sixteen, which makes their affair pretty scandalous. I kept waiting for it to get really exciting and maybe even shocking, but again, it was kind of bogged down in the minutiae. I’ll admit there were parts that were pretty sexy, and it was even more interesting because it was from a guy’s perspective. Mason was sort of obsessive where Colette was concerned, but it wasn’t in a ridiculous teenage boy way - he was pretty mature about it, and I appreciated that.

Overall, I didn’t love this book, but I didn’t hate it either. It was original, had a believable storyline with a great, authentic narrative voice, but it got bogged down in the details. If you’re a fan of stories that are almost journal-like in their day-to-day happenings, and if you like contemporary young adult, especially from a male POV, consider giving The Lighter Side of Life and Death a try. 

Have you read this book? What did you think? Do you enjoy books from a male perspective?

 

This post has been part of the Canadian Spotlight Month. Click the graphic below to check out the schedule and all things Canadian here at Ramblings of a Daydreamer.