Archive for April 6th, 2008
Sunday, April 6th, 2008Sunday Salon - April 6, 2008
April 6, 2008
3:15 PM UPDATE
I’ve had some wonderful comments on my Salon post today - including some suggestions for poetry. When I went wandering around Google to find information on one of them (Dorothy Parker), I discovered a fabulous poetry site called Representative Poetry Online. There is tons of helpful information including a timeline of poetry in English, links to critical analysis, poem and poet indexes with representative poetry from selected poets, and a section on Canadian poetry.
I’ve read 70 pages into The Sister and am finding it a relaxing and engrossing read. My wood stove is glowing and the cats have chosen to nap near me (although I can’t be 100% sure it isn’t just the warmth of the fire which draws them close).
I’ve spent a little time today looking ahead to my next reads. I pulled out my essays by E.B. White and decided I’ll start reading them a bit at a time over the next few weeks. And I’m anxious to start my most recent early review book: The Cellist of Sarajevo. I’ve been reading some reviews on this one which have sparked my curiosity.
11:15 AM
I slept in a bit this morning, read my email over a cup of strong coffee and spent some time connecting with family on the telephone. But now it is time to settle down and read.
April is poetry month, so I thought I’d open today’s Salon post with a poem by my favorite poet: Robert Frost. I own a wonderful little Everyman’s edition of Frost poems…and this one seemed appropriate to the Sunday Salon:
A Time To Talk
When a friend calls to me from the road
And slows his horse to a meaning walk,
I don’t stand still and look around
On all the hills I haven’t hoed,
And shout from where I am, What is it?
No, not as there is a time to talk.
I thrust my hoe in the mellow ground,
Blade-end up and five feet tall,
And plod: I go up to the stone wall
For a friendly visit.
Reading Frost reminds me of my childhood growing up in the country in New Hampshire. One of my favorite memories was pedaling my bike out to a local farm where I rode the old horses and enjoyed petting the friendly lamb named Sweet Pea. I enjoy poetry that conjures up favorite images. Do you read poetry? Who is your favorite poet?
Earlier this week I also read an essay by Cindy Ozick (read my thoughts here). It reminded me that I really should read more essays. I have a book of essays by EB White which has sat on my shelf for far too long.
I finished reading Embers (read my review) earlier in the week. I loved the moodiness of the piece, although there will be readers who don’t appreciate the ending which is largely left to interpretation.
Then I got back to my stack of early review books and breezed through Elizabeth Strout’s Olive Kitteridge (read my review). I had never read a book by Strout, and I enjoyed her insight into the characters. This book was set in Maine, which is close to my heart having lived in various coastal villages in Maine for several years of my adult life. I will most certainly be reading more Strout in the future.
Last night I stayed up until midnight to finish The Tenderness of Wolves (read my review). Wow, I really loved this book. It is a brilliant combination of suspense, mystery and literary…and I predict we will see a movie made from this book before too long.
I’m now returning to my early review books. I have had The Sister, by Poppy Adams sitting on my bedside table for a month now. I must admit I’ve been reluctant to pick it up because I’ve only read lukewarm reviews of it. But, this week Michelle at 1 More Chapter indicated she loved the book (read Michelle’s review), and I often agree with Michelle’s impression of books - so now I’m a little more excited to read this one.
Speaking of Michelle, she also started a new blog this week of which I am honored to be a contributor. Novels Now provides reviews of all the newest books being released. And this week there is also a giveaway in honor of Buy A Friend A Book week which you might want to check out.
I’m now off to do some reading. Happy Sunday to all the Saloners - I’ll be making my way around your posts later today!
Sunday, April 6th, 2008The Tenderness of Wolves - Book Review
Sometimes you find yourself looking at the forest in a different way. Sometimes it’s no more than the trees that provide houses and warmth, and hide the earth’s nakedness, and you’re glad of it. And then sometimes, like tonight, it is a vast dark presence that you can never see the end of; it might, for all you know, have not just length and breadth to lose yourself in, but also an immeasurable depth, or something else altogether. -From The Tenderness of Wolves, page 55-
Stef Penney won the 2006 Costa Book Award for this first novel. Set in 1867 in the wilderness of Ontario near Georgian Bay, the novel is a panoramic, fast paced murder mystery. Penney’s cinematic experience as a screen writer is evident in the novel’s structure: short, tension filled chapters from alternating points of view.
The novel opens with the gruesome murder of Laurent Jammett, a French fur trader. His body is discovered by a neighbor - Mrs. Ross - who reports the crime to the local magistrate. Later when she discovers her 17 year old son is missing and he becomes the focus of the investigation, Mrs. Ross becomes obsessed with finding the killer. Penney brings together a wide range of characters besides Mrs. Ross and her son, Francis. There is Mr. Knox - the magistrate - and his daughters Susanna and Maria who tell the story of two girls (their cousins) who walked into the wilderness and were never found; the mysterious Thomas Sturrock arrives to claim an artifact promised to him by Jammett; a team of investigators from the Hudson Bay Company, including Donald Moody - a clumsy, young man with mixed loyalties - arrive within days of the murder; and William Parker, a half breed native American who becomes Mrs. Ross’ guide through the wilderness.
The Tenderness of Wolves is not a simple crime mystery. Penney deftly explores themes such as commercial conflict between the large fur companies and the smaller traders, addiction, infidelity, and sexuality. She has an eye for setting - placing her characters in the snowy landscape of the Northern Territories with wolves lurking in the dark woods. Her skill lies in drawing the reader into the story through a gradual awareness of the facts as tension thickens between key characters. There are parallel stories which weave through the novel - and become as engrossing as the main mystery.
I read The Tenderness of Wolves late into the night, compulsively turning the pages. It is easy to see why Penney won the prestigious Costa Award.
Highly recommended; rated 5/5.