BOOK: Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson, 358 pages

being released March 2, 2010 (thanks to Randomhouse Canada for a review copy)
What's in a Name 3: title in the title

I need to quantify for myself what it was about this book that I liked so much, because I really enjoyed this book, and would love to read more like it. I know the British setting is something I like, set in a small village in Sussex. I also liked the characters, warts and all. Characters like the Major, that think their life is one way, and then discover it is another, and have the strength of character to follow through on this change, are fun to read about. And if they make this change because of love, well, I just swoon.

Major Pettigrew is one of those British men who grew up in a different time, of gentile manners, of politeness, of respect for a certain class. And now it's the 21st century and everything has changed on him. He is doing alright with the new age, but his ambitious son seems so selfish and crass, especially in comparison. With the death of his brother, his orderly world is shaken up. While dealing with this tragedy, he meets Mrs Ali, a Pakistani shopkeeper. A lovely little romance ensues, much to the dismay of all involved - family and neighbours. I loved the irony of the fact that Major Pettigrew was born in India, but is the quintessential British man, and Mrs Ali, born and spent her whole life in England, is still the foreigner. The clash of family cultures is a recurring theme in the book.

Major Pettigrew was a wonderful character. In some ways he reminded me of Stevens, the butler in Remains of the Day. He wasn't that extreme, but appearances were important, and manners, and standing in the community. Yet, he was also old enough to begin to be a bit selfish, and do things for himself and to be able to do the right thing, after a lifetime of worrying what other people think. He certainly wasn't perfect, but I was cheering for him from the very beginning, and really enjoyed my time with him and Mrs Ali. Somewhere I read this called a 'wrinkly romance' and I imagine as the baby boomers age, we'll see more romances where the characters are widowed and then find love anew, and deal with their children's reactions.

This book has a lot of stuff going on - some parts are humorous, some farcical, some adventurous, some romance. I could see a criticism being that the book doesn't know what it wants to be, but I liked the variety and change in tone. It was a slice of life, a small story of two very different people looking to be happy.

also reviewed by:
nan at Letters from a Hill Farm

BOOK: Nikolski by Nicolas Dickner

Nikolski by Nicolas Dickner, 286 pages

What's in a Name 3: place name; Book Awards IV: Governor-General's Prize for English to French translation 2008


Nikolski reminded me of Yellowknife by Steve Zipp: quirky, wandering characters, humorous, not a plot per se, but an enjoyable story nonetheless.

Nikolski: a community on an Aleutian island, in Alaska, where a particular compass always points.

Three young adults who have lived very similar lives - raised by a single parent in unorthodox manners, all head toward Montreal and live near each other. Each has little in the lines of possessions, but their one valuable or cherished item passes around amongst each other. The three characters are actually quite entwined in too many ways to begin to explain.

Some topics that could be discussed in book groups:
- possessions versus nomads
- the archeology of garbage
- pirates: then and now
- the displacement of aboriginal people
- maps, compasses, charts

And through it all, it's a sea-faring novel, with so many ocean references and water comparisons no one ever sails on water, even the pirate. The first line, "My name is unimportant" could also be a reference to the opening line of Moby Dick. (I didn't recognize that, I read that somewhere that I can't find the reference to now. I didn't figure that out, but it's pretty smart.)

There are lots of levels and symbolism here for those who like that sort of thing. In fact, once I read some comments about the book at CBC Reads Bookclub, I was more impressed with the book. It may be a book that I keep thinking about after the fact, but it didn't touch me as I read it, even though I enjoyed the book.

also reviewed:
august at vestige, a literary blog

Canada Reads Update:
I have managed to read all the books in this year's Canada Reads 2010, the first time I have completed them. I was lucky that this time I had already read Generation X by Douglas Coupland and Fall on Your Knees by Ann Marie MacDonald. Since they were announced, I've read The Jade Peony by Wayson Choi and Good to a Fault by Marina Endicott.

My rankings:
1. Good to a Fault (the one I want to talk about the most, and that I was most involved in the story)
2. Nikolski (quirky and cute, but it didn't lead me to want to talk about it, until I read some other comments; reminded my of Yellowknife)
3. Fall on Your Knees (I read it long ago, and liked it but didn't get the raving and found it too depressing)
4. The Jade Peony (nothing to like or dislike)
5. Generation X (I recognize why it is iconic, and Coupland is one of my favorite authors, but this is my least favorite of his books)

BOOK: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley, 292 pages

What's in a Name3?: food in title; Book Awards IV(Dagger Debut)

A great new mystery series, (The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag is to be released March 9, 2010) Flavia de Luce is a smart-thinking, 11 year old, evil younger sister narrator. Set in the 1950s, that wonderful time after the war when Britain is in upheaval, reassessing class systems and hanging on to the old gentry label. Flavia comes from a family with a named house, a father who appears not to have to work, and some servants in the house. She is free to wreck havoc on her older sisters and experiment in the chemistry lab in the attic. Oh, yes, there is some chemistry love in this book.

I still shivered with joy whenever I thought of the rainy autumn day that Chemistry had fallen into my life. .... I cheered aloud when I read that a woman, Madame Curie, had discovered radium..... When I found the precise instructions were given for formulating these compounds, I was in seventh heaven. (page 7) Fear not readers, there isn't that much chemistry in the story, but there was just enough for my chem geek love.

Flavia is at the perfect age, eleven, free to roam around, smart enough to think, brave enough to ask questions and butt in to places, and young enough not to know any better. The mystery was solid, clues given here and there, but it was the interactions with the sisters and setting that I really enjoyed, plus extras about stamps, and magic. I'd read the next Flavia mystery; she's quite a character.

I made it to five, the silver level, and there are still a few days left in January. How high can I make it?






more rave reviews:
geranium cat's bookshelf
lesley's booknook
eva at A Striped Armchair
charley at bending bookshelves
alison at piling on the books
carl at Stainless Steel Droppings
nicola at Back to Books
joy atThoughts of Joy
chris at book-a-rama

CHALLENGE: What's in a Name 3 Challenge

Challenge - What's In A Name 3 Challenge

Dates - January 1 - December 31, 2010
Host - Beth at Beth Fish Reads

Read one book in each of the following categories, my ideas listed:

A book with a food in the title:
Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie - Alan Bradley 01/26

A book with a body of water in the title:

The Swimming Pool - Holly LeCraw 04/9

A book with a title (queen, president) in the title:

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand - Helen Simonson 02/27

A book with a plant in the title:
Purple Hibiscus - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 01/17

A book with a place name (city, country) in the title:
Nikolski - Nicolas Dickner 02/17

A book with a music term in the title:
La's Orchestra Saves the World - Alexander McCall Smith 03/14