BOOK: Annabel by Kathleen Winter

Annabel by Kathleen Winter, 460 pages

Orange July (shortlist 2011); Canadian Book Challenge 5

In 1968, a baby is born in a small town in Labrador. Only his parents and the midwife realize that the child is born with both male and female sex organs. Annabel follows the life of Wayne as he grows. Don't expect a story like Middlesex, if you've already read that book. Annabel is more about fitting in, being comfortable with who you are, whatever that might be, and the delicate balance within a family of parental love.

Winter writes a beautiful, slow story. Wayne, his parents and the midwife are all characters the reader gets to know and hope for. There is less about the male/female than you would expect; it's there, but not so much from Wayne's thoughts. Labarador is a huge character and I was pleased to get to know it as I doubt I'll ever get to visit. Wonderful book overall!

I was born in 1967, so I knew I would be able to culturally relate to Wayne throughout his life. All the song references seemed spot on for me. (Those high school years are such a noticeable signpost. For example, it was September 1984 that MuchMusic debuted because it was the weekend before school started in grade twelve and we stayed up all weekend watching videos.) There was a reference to a Subway store in St John's after Wayne graduated from high school, which struck me as odd. I was well into university before Subway started becoming popular, which is late 80s. I did a little research and it turns out that the first Subway restaurant in Canada was in Newfoundland in 1986, the year Wayne graduated high school.  Well done!

some other reviews:  bellistra magazine discussion; geranium cat at geranium cat's bookshelf; jules at jules book review; buried in print; jackie at farmlanebooks; amy at amymackiereads;

BOOK: Lullabies for Little Criminals by Heather O'Neill

Lullabies for Little Criminals by Heather O'Neill, 330 pages

Orange July (shortlisted 2008); Canadian Book Challenge 5

Winner of Canada Reads 2007, I think I have been mixing this book up with The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. While Glass Castle is a memoir, Lullabies for Little Children is fiction, though I gather from reading about the author, that it is somewhat based on her experience growing up in Montreal.

Baby, the twelve year old narrator, is being raised by her father, Jules, a heroin addict with some mental health issues. Baby's mother has died, and Jules has raised her since he was fifteen, living in downtown Montreal. While they may not have much stability, there is love. Twelve year olds are at the best age, since they are still kids, but are getting mature enough to see the world around them, and beginning to understand their place in it. Baby is a strong character and proves the adage that if children have one person who loves them, they have that support they need to turn out okay. Eventually, as she ages, and with Jules disappearing at times, Baby begins facing adult situations. When the local pimp makes her his project, Baby reaches a cross roads, conflicted by the grownup world and her friendship with a 'normal' twelve year old. The contrast between Baby's time with her friend Xavier and her dates with Alphonse the pimp are stunning.

The first half of the book, with Baby's stream of consciousness, was really strange. Her view of Montreal and her life thus far was weird and I wondered how the author came up with each bizarre incident. They seemed so random, but then life is random for children, especially ones who don't have a lot of stability. Once Baby's life had been established, I found the second half of the book much stronger. Some people are survivors.

You could not make a child with bad memories into a kid with good memories. A really effective social worker would have to be a time traveler who could go back in time and undo the abuse most kids [in detention] had suffered. p 191

CHALLENGE: Orange July

Once again, it's that time of the year when fans of the Orange Prize celebrate by reading, at least one book from the short or long lists or a winner. Jill keeps up organized, if you like that sort of thing, on Facebook and at Librarything. These are places to chat with other readers, and discuss the books we've read. Need to talk to someone after reading Fingersmith? Need to vent to someone after reading We Need to Talk About Kevin? Someone at librarything has probably read it and would love to discuss it with you.

For more information about Orange July, visit Jill at her blog, The Magic Lasso

I'll read before July even starts: (feel free to start early)

The Memory of Love by Aminnata Forma (shortlist 2011)

Book I Own

Larry's Party by Carol Shields (1998 winner)
Annabel by Kathleen Winter (2011 shortlist)
Prep by Curtis Sittenfield (2006 longlist)
A Spell of Winter by Helen Dunmore (1996 winner)
Lullabies for Little Criminals (shortlist 2008)

The Colour by Rose Tremain (2004 longlist)
Love Marriage by VV Ganeshananthan (2009 longlist)

The books I actually read:

1. Prep - Curtis Sittenfeld
2. The Memory of Love - Aminnata Forma
3. Lullabies for Little Criminals - Heather O'Neill
4. Annabel - Kathleen Winter
5. A Spell of Winter - Helen Dunmore
6.