State Of Wonder

State Of Wonder

by Ann Patchett


Marina Singh is accustomed to her quiet existence working in a pharmaceutical lab, but when her lab partner, Anders, disappears on a mission to the Amazon, Marina leaves her comfort zone to go and retrieve him. 

In the jungle Marina tracks down her former mentor, Dr. Annick Swenson, and her team of scientists.  She discovers that their research goes far beyond the malaria cure that their funding prescribes.  When she discovers that the team is on the verge of a breakthrough in reproductive technology, she is swept up in the excitement.  At times Marina seems almost subsumed by the magic and mystery of the Amazon. 

As the plot unfolds it becomes clear that the research taking place is crossing clear ethical boundaries.  The novel questions whether scientific research should be undertaken for its own sake.  Is it enough to expand our scientific horizons?  Or are there lines that should simply not be crossed?

Fast-paced and full of suspense, this book is a fantastic read.  I couldn't put it down!

The Back of the Turtle

The Back of the Turtle

by Thomas King

The Back of the Turtle, a Governor General's award-winner,  is a little bit Tom Robbins-esque with a quirky cast of characters from various backgrounds who are linked via an environmental tragedy.  When a northern B.C. tailings pond fails, it fills a river system with toxins, killing everything in its path.  Dorian Asher, the CEO of the company responsible, is more concerned about his new Rolex than his company's mistake.  He's prepared to handle the media onslaught, but the disappearance of Gabriel Quinn, his top scientist, is making things more complicated.    

Meanwhile, Quinn has turned up at the virtual ghost town of Samaritan Bay where a previous environmental disaster decimated both the town and the adjacent Native reserve.  As the scientist responsible for the poisoning of Samaritan Bay and its environs, he ostensibly goes to the site to commit suicide.  Instead he meets townsfolk who are hoping for the return of the people, their town, and their beloved turtles, who used to lay eggs on the beach.  Samaritan Bay could in fact be the place Quinn finds his redemption.  

This novel is rather timely considering that a very similar tailings pond disaster did occur in northern B.C. last summer.  As in real life, the media’s handling of the situation in the novel is at first intense, but the disaster is quickly forgotten when a fresh tragedy occurs.

Despite the heavy subject matter, King takes a comic approach.  Rebirth and renewal are major themes.  Although the book is over 500 pages long, it’s a light, enjoyable read.

Water for elephants

By Sara Gruen 

This is one that outdid the movie. I loved this book. I found that the author really did her homework in researching the life of a circus employee. The circus is a tough life. Living on the road always on the go; traveling from town to town. This book describes what it was like for people of the circus. What might look like a glittery and glossy life of entertainment and excitement is actually filled with blood, sweet and tears. But through it all our main character prevails and even finds love on the road. I especially liked the ending, without spoiling anything our hero follows his heart. I found that the moral of Water for Elephants was dream, follow your heart and be strong. I felt empowered after reading this. There are wonderful images throughout that help with the story. I liked that the story felt as if it was a non-fiction piece.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette

By Maria Semple 

This bestselling novel is a great pick if you are looking for a quick read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and became quite attached to the characters. It's funny, quirky, and there's a bit of a mystery. Where'd You Go, Bernadette is set in Seattle so reflections on the weather and West Coast culture may seem familiar. The format put me off at first – it’s mostly in the form of different correspondences from what seem like unrelated people but I soon got used to it and found the book to be quite clever.

Hounded

by Kevin Hearne
The Iron Druid Chronicles, Book 1

If you're looking for a fast, funny read and you're a fan of mythology and magic in the modern world, here's a great pick. Atticus O'Sullivan is the last Druid, and is just trying to live peacefully, running his bookshop and hunting (in dog-form of course) with his wolfhound companion. He's also in hiding from a god he ticked off a few thousand years back, and that god has now decided to track him down in earnest, and try to off him once and for all.

This has been called the "logical heir" to Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series, and I think that fits. The best parts of this series are its characters, particularly Atticus' vampire and werewolf  legal team, and his relationship with his wolfhound, Oberon, who has recently decided he's very much like to be the canine Genghis Khan.

An exciting, amusing read for fantasy fans - highly recommended! And if you want more reviews and similar-read recommendations, check out Hounded on our catalogue!

I Spy DIY Style; find fashion you love and do it yourself

I spy DIY style

By Jenni Radosevich

I am a lover of DIY. I also appreciate a great deal and this book helps to show you how to create some fun fashion looks for less. With my degree in fashion and my love of sewing I find it easy to transform my thrift store finds into great looks for work and play. I Spy DIY Style has given me some inspiration and helpful tips for my next outfit. Radosevich has brought together a collection of fashion trends from past and present and through simple instructions and easy to follow diagrams readers can recreate these looks. One of my favorite tips from this book is to take a metallic permanent marker and use it to decorate the frame of your sunglasses; so effective and looks great. Radosevich has used easy to find, inexpensive supplies to recreate some wonderful designs. From clothing to accessories you will be able to upgrade your wardrobe at a fraction of the price. And when people ask you, "Where did you get that great piece?" You get to say, "Oh this? I made it!"

Shady Characters: The Secret Life of Punctuation, Symbols & Other Typographical Marks

by Keith Houston

Nothing could sound more boring than a book about the question mark and that weird paragraph symbol (It's got an actual name, this symbol. It's called a pilcrow and it looks like this: ¶)  But it's actually oddly interesting.  This is almost a history of publishing as much as the stories of the symbols themselves.  Each chapter generally stands alone, telling the history of a given symbol, but put all together, you learn the whys and wherefores of our weird keyboards, why given symbols despite years of disuse, still exist.

And, perhaps for the internet generation, we can finally agree on what to call this: #.