porte-voix

lecture et échange | reading and sharing

[iciroxanne]

Moving out

This tumblr has served the very important purpose of getting me to write about the books I’ve been reading and enjoying. The platform has its limits, and I’ve decided to move this blog to http://cpress.org/arts-culture -- follow my book reviews there!

J’ai eu bien du plaisir à faire usage de ce compte tumblr pour enfin publier quelques critiques de livres. J’ai cependant décidé de faire le saut vers une plate-forme un peu plus complète. Vous pourrez dorénavant lire mes critiques, en anglais et en français, sur http://cpress.org/arts-culture.

[iciroxanne]

Patience by Daniel Clowes is a graphic novel that combines a love story and time travel. That should be enough information for many of you to pick it up, but in case you need more, you should know that it is an intriguing and sensible story that is a great summer read. It is the story of Patience, a young woman who is expecting a baby with her partner, Jack. They don’t have much money but are committed to making it work. A mysterious event takes place which will prompt Jack to investigate her past and previous relationships and which will eventually lead him to travel back in time in an attempt to protect her. There are some sombre passages, but overall the graphic novel is well put together.

[iciroxanne]

Ce sont les aventures d'un étudiant en rédaction de thèse qui habite dans le quartier du Mile-End, à Montréal. Dans ce quartier bohème en transformation, il passera d'étudiant à père de famille alors que les cafés poussent, les boutiques huppées font leur apparition et les loyers montent en flèche. Ce roman graphique fait le tour des quatre saisons comme on prend une marche au dep du coin. C'est une revue tendre, comique et intime de la vie dans le Mile-End. Michel Hellman a plusieurs livres plus récent que celui-ci, mais c'est une lecture essentielle.

[iciroxanne]

Je n’ai vraiment aucune excuse d’avoir attendu si longtemps pour lire l’un des grands classiques de la littérature franco-canadienne. Je connais Gabrielle Roy depuis longtemps, mais je n’ai jamais eu la chance de lire l’un de ses livres jusqu’à ce que celui si se retrouve par hasard sur l’étagère de ma bibliothèque publique. Ces enfants de ma vie est un roman court qui raconte la période où Gabrielle Roy enseignait dans une école de campagne à l’âge de 18 ans, avant d’aller en ville. Elle dresse le portrait des enfants de sa classe, les plus tannants, les plus sages, ceux qui lui donnaient du fil à retorde et ceux qui la couvraient d’affection. Son écriture est soignée, sensible et regorge d’émotion. Si le livre raconte l’histoire de ces enfants, il n’en est pas moins une réflexion sur son entrée dans l’âge adulte. J’ai tant aimé ce roman que je vais me lancer dans l’exploration de son œuvre complète.

Ces enfants de ma vie de Gabrielle Roy

[iciroxanne]

In 13 portraits, Mona Awad paints a picture of a woman who struggles her whole life with body image and weight-loss. Through her relationships, at various times of her life, this novel looks at the challenges, confidence-busters and confidence-boosters, love, hate and other factors that create the complicated relationship women have with their bodies. The author’s style and wit make this book a fascinating read that I was unable to put down. She asks the question: when we change our bodies, do we really change ourselves? Well worth a read.

13 ways of looking at a fat girl by Mona Awad

[iciroxanne]

I can thank my monthly book club for the discovery of The Naturalist by Alissa York, since I hadn’t heard of neither the book, nor the author. The book tells the story of Rachel, a young woman from Philadelphia, who, in 1867, becomes familiar with a couple of Naturalists. In the early days of science, and just a few years after the publication of Darwin’s Origin of Species, this family goes on a trek to the Amazon to collect specimens, study nature and document new species. Rachel will witness the jungle like never before, encountering new and interesting creatures, getting lost in dense green patches, and discovering bit by bit the story of the people that have brought her here, and their connection to indigenous lands and peoples. The descriptions of the natural world are magical, and the collision with new flora and fauna is inspiring at a time when most  knowledge on plants and animals had yet to be written. I enjoyed the flow of the novel and the entanglement of characters: there’s more to it than trees and monkeys, and you’ll have to pick it up for yourself!

The Naturalist by Alissa York

[iciroxanne]

Quelle chance d’avoir découvert, un peu par hasard, ce roman traduit du japonais qui n’est même pas disponible en anglais. Les délices de Tokyo raconte l’histoire d’un homme qui travaille dans une boutique de doroyaki, de petites pâtisseries japonaises qui ressemblent à deux crêpes plates avec une garniture de pâte de haricots sucrée. On comprend que l’homme est endetté aux propriétaires de la boutique et tente de repayer sa dette au fil d’années écoulées à confectionner et vendre ces pâtisseries. Un jour, une vieille dame aux doigts croches vient lui proposer de gouter à sa pâte de haricots. Il est épaté, et elle viendra en préparer dans la boutique, à l’abri des regards des clients et de la propriétaire. Leur relation évoluera, et certains secrets de leur passé viendront informer leur condition présente. Sans dévoiler l’intrigue plus qu’il ne le faut, ce roman est une histoire d’amour entre les générations, de réflexion sur la vie et l’œuvre, et une histoire touchante (et gourmande) à lire absolument.

Les délices de Tokyo de Durian Sukegawa

[iciroxanne]

The Illegal is the latest book by Canadian novelist Lawrence Hill. It tells the story of an elite runner, Keita, who finds himself in a country where he is undocumented. His life is precariously organized in order to get him from one race to another, where he hopes to rank first and get prize money. The book is very plot-driven, telling his story and that of the people who surround him. Characters range from the power-hungry politician looking to make gains from anti-immigrant sentiments, to a generous older woman who finds a way to offer library cards to hundreds of undocumented people, to an over-bearing agent trying to make a dime off of other people’s talents, and many more.

Although the story stays on the first level for most of the book, the choice of talking about undocumented people, refugees and migrants in general is a political statement. Through fiction, the author tries to break down barriers and make the reader understand that hate, fear-mongering and racism serve the purpose of particular forces in society, and are in no way a path to building a better world.

The Illegal by Lawrence Hill

[iciroxanne]

Mort-Terrain est le dernier roman de Biz, romancier et membre du groupe Loco Locass. L’histoire se déroule dans une petite communauté au Nord du Québec.

Depuis quelques années, la région connaît des années difficiles à cause du manque d’emplois. Un jour, une compagnie minière va fouiner dans les parages, et exposera certaines divisions de longue date. D’une part, les villageois en quête d’emploi seront tentés d’accepter la présence de la compagnie, coûte que coûte. D’autre part, la communauté autochtone tentera de faire valoir que la compagnie n’a pas le droit d’ouvrir boutique sur leurs terres. Au beau milieu de la tempête se retrouve un médecin, nouvellement arrivé de Montréal, qui voudra à son tour défendre la santé et le bien-être de tous et chacun, peu importe leurs position dans le débat. Mort-Terrain a un style effrénée qui se lit aisément.

Le plus intéressant, c’est cette tentative de mettre au jour les pièges des divisions entre les emplois, l’environnement, et les communautés autochtones. Un roman actuel qui met en scène un conflit que nous vivons aujourd’hui à plusieurs échelles.

Mort-Terrain, Biz

[iciroxanne]

I confess: The Heart Goes Last is the first book by Margaret Atwood I have ever read. I have no point of comparison, but this book was a wild and absurd universe that I don’t regret one bit.

The novel is set in a near-future where job losses are the new norm and people are living dire economic circumstances. A young couple living in their car decides to take a leap of faith and sign on to a closed community called the Positron Project. The alluring promise they fall for is one where there are neatly furnished houses and jobs for all, where every need is met. Inhabitants spend one month in their home, and the other doing time in a prison cell eating locally produced food and sustaining the economy inside and outside prison.

As one could expect, this community is not all that it seems. The young couple will be faced with twists and turns that will test their endurance, their understanding of the world and of each other, and ultimately, their love.

The Heart Goes Last is a crisp and funny account of a world where the line between our current modern reality and a possible future dystopia is very thin.

The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood

[iciroxanne]

As some of you may know, the Canada Reads book challenge is on in March. The short list has been out since the end of January, which gives avid readers a couple of months to get through five books. My first pick was Michael Winter’s Minister Without Portfolio, a story set in Renews, Newfoundland.

Henry Hayward is on the tail-end of a series of traumatic events: he is recently separated, returns from serving in Afghanistan, and from working in Fort McMurray. He’s far from unscathed, and is back in Newfoundland to find his footing and give a good, hard look at his life.

He is often reminded of a friend who, in the army, gave him the cryptic nickname of “Minister without portfolio”. Henry is put off, at first, thinking that it described him as a wandering soul without ties or commitments. He comes to realize that it was instead well-intentioned: that he had a hand in many different files, that he helped around. Henry reflects on his role and actions of the past, and begins living for his “hundred people” -- those around him that he chooses to help and be present for.

Minister Without Portfolio is a book about reconciling with the past by being conscious about one’s current and future actions. The coastal setting is enchanting, and the characters are genuine. It’s a lovely read that provides impressive emotional depth in a common small-town context.

Minister Without Portfolio by Michael Winter

[iciroxanne]

Le dernier roman de Nicolas Dickner est une aventure exceptionnelle dans le monde de la poursuite des conteneurs. À une époque où la crise des réfugiés bat son plein dans plusieurs pays, cette histoire est d’une actualité frappante. Le livre raconte l’histoire de deux femmes, Lisa et Jay, qui ne se connaissent pas, mais qui, à la manière de Dickner, sont connectées de bien des manières. L’une d’elles entreprendra un voyage hors du commun, et l’autre tentera de suivre les traces d’un conteneur fantôme qui est disparu de Montréal. L’écriture est amusante et comique, et la lecture est entraînante avec des airs d’intrigue policière rocambolesque. 

Six degrés de liberté, Éditions Alto

[iciroxanne]

J'ai récemment eu envie de lire le dernier livre de Nicolas Dickner (Six degrés de liberté) qui semble être bien reçu, mais je ne m'étais jamais donné la chance de lire son premier roman: Nikolski. Il avait, lui aussi, causé beaucoup d'émoi dans les années suivant sa parution en 2005. Je me suis donc procuré les deux livres (à partir de la collection de la bibliothèque publique de Toronto, bien-sûr).

Nikolski est l'un de ces livres qui, en quelques pages seulement, vous rappelle à quel point les gens sont connectés.

Dans ce joyeux roman, vous ferez la connaissance de Noah et de Joyce, deux âmes errantes qui arrivent presqu'au même moment à Montréal pour amorcer leurs vies indépendantes. Les deux personnages ne feront pas connaissance, mais certaines choses et personnes tenteront toujours de les connecter.

Leurs aventures sont fascinantes, leurs personnalités attachantes. C'est une lecture qui se fait toute seule tant l'écriture entraînante dresse le portrait de personnages dont on ne peut se lâsser.

[iciroxanne]

Pour les francophones qui voudraient lire la traduction du livre de Sean Michaels. Il semblerait que la version française est tout aussi magique et entraînante que la version anglaise.

[iciroxanne]

A book reviewed published in What’s Left This Week on January 17, 2016.

[iciroxanne]

Us Conductors by Sean Michaels

If you, like myself, hadn’t heard much about the intriguing instrument called the theremin, then you’re in for a treat. The winner of the 2014 Giller prize is Sean Michaels’ Us Conductors, a tale about Lev Theremin and the instrument he invented in the 1920′s.

Lev is a precious character: an inventive scientist from the Soviet Union who practices kung-fu and is sent to the United States to spread the word about his ingenious invention. In America, he meets a series of interesting characters, one of them being Clara, a musician he will pursue and who will eventually master the art of playing the theremin. His adventures through New York City, the 1920′s jazz and dancing halls, the world of music and parties is sublime. With time, Lev will be asked to perform the duties of a spy in a context where he is a loyal soviet subject. He will eventually need to return to the motherland, albeit not under the most dreamy circumstances.

The book is mostly fiction, despite basing itself on Lev and Clara who did indeed exist, and of course in a real historical context. It’s a musical and enlightening journey of love and duty, and it is a charming read. Once you’ve read it, you’ll surely get a kick out of this: Star Trek Theme on Theremin. Enjoy!

[iciroxanne]

Rarely do you come across fiction for young readers where the backdrop is a labour dispute, let alone one as harsh and violent as the 1931 dressmakers’ strike in Toronto. In 44 hours or strike! (Second Story Press, 2015), Anne Dublin has us follow two young Jewish sisters whose struggle ends up taking place as much within themselves as it does in the cold streets of Hogtown.

A short book review written for the January/February 2016 Monitor.