February 23rd - Book Twelve: Fat Girl

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Originally uploaded by cherubichomer.

This book, by Judith Moore, is my book number 12 and it was an okay book, I guess. Ms. Moore wrote this book as a memoir of her being overweight. It's very touching at times but not the type of story that I normally read. I bought it at bookwarehouse for $5.99 because the dust cover contains a review by David Sedaris. It's insightful but sometimes over the top. I know that I'll probably never get to the situation where I'll be any more than empathetic to an overweight people's burden but the story seems a little too self pitying. My inability to relate left me less able to relate. Very well written, though, and the pages fly by. I'd give it a 2.5/5. (196 pages. Total for the year: 3030 pages)

February 17th - Book Eleven: Checkpoint

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Originally uploaded by cherubichomer.

This is a book by Nicholson Baker. I bought it at Pulpfiction on Main Street at the corner of Broadway for $9. (It's a first edition.) He wrote some very good books like Vox, The Fermata, and The Mezzanine all which have a strong "cultish" following. Checkpoint may seem a lot different than the books that he's written in the past but I think that there is a very subtle similarity. When I read The Fermata, The Mezzanine, and Vox the first thing that came to mind was Mr. Baker was telling us a story about things that he wants to do. His personality comes through his characters. I think Checkpoint is doing the same thing. This book is based on a conversation between two friends on the possibility of assassinating George W. Bush. The character Jay feels a need to kill Bush to stop all the nonsensical murders that he's causing in the countries the United States at at war with. I think the book strongly suggests Baker's political leanings. An interesting read if you want a quick abridged history of what GWB has done to create the situation that he has put the US in. However, be warned that it is a politically charged, strongly left leaning book. I give it 2.5/5 and I recommend it to those that like Michael Moore. For those that would rather read David Hardy (He wrote the book "Michael Moore is a big fat stupid white man" this'll just raise your blood pressure. (128 pages. Total for the year: 2834 pages)

Lui

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Originally uploaded by cherubichomer.

The next coming of Kirk McLean but with a little bit more personality, there are millions in this town that are betting on this guy to take the Canucks to the promiseland that is the Stanley Cup playoffs. He's been amazing, almost super-human in his actions and this is getting many people around the water cooler talking. Here are some Luongo-isms;
- Luongo doesn't sleep... he waits.
- Some wear Superman pajamas.... Kipper wears Luongo pajamas.
- Luongo lost his virginity before his dad did.
- On the 7th day God rested... Luongo took over.
- Luongo can shoot a plane down by holding up his stick and yelling "BANG!"
- Luongo is Luke Skywalkers real father.
- Luongo is the reason why waldo is hiding.
- Luongo counted to infinity. twice.
- Luongo's glove hand is the only one that can beat a Royal Flush.
- When the boogyman goes to sleep everynight... he checks his closet for Luongo.
- Icey-hot is not strong enough for Luongo. After each game he rubs his muscles with liquid MAGMA
- The bible was originaly named "Luongo and Friends"
- Luongo was what Willis was talkin about.
- When God said "let there be light" Luongo said "Say please."
- In a fight between Bieksa and Iginla you know who the winner would be? Luongo.
- In the words of Julius Caesar: "Veni, Vidi, Vici, Luongo". Translation: "I came, I saw, i was shut out by Luongo".
- Mr. T "Pities the fool" Luongo pities Mr. T.
- Chuck Norris is revered for his roundhouse kicks. It was once said that Chuck Norris performed a roundhouse kick so powerful; it's caused the Earth to reverse it rotation. Time stopped altogether when Luongo made a basic kick save.

Go, Canucks, go.

February 13th - Book Ten: The Cutting Room

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Originally uploaded by cherubichomer.

Louise Welsh won a lot of praise and a even more accollades for this book. Her first, it was applauded by British newspaper The Guardian as the year's best crime fiction when it debuted. It's on this praise that I bought the book. Based on a homosexual male auctioneer (that should have warned me off right there) it follows the plot of the main trying to figure out if some pictures he gets his paws on of an apparent snuff are real or fake. Why did I mention that the protagonist was gay? It shouldn't matter, you say? Well, Ms. Welsh doesn't let us forget the sexual orientation of the Auctioneer. The story is somewhat schizophrenic, jumping from his (numerous) sexual conquests and/or sexual desires, stereotypical private investigator reactions - car chases, drinking problems, little white lies to gain an advantage in the search, etc, etc, etc. - and less than informatiive meanderings that have nothing to do with the plot. Really, having a tough guy homosexual auctioneer with so much sensitivity seemed wrong. He's portrays more as a strong woman, which Ms. Welsh should have had as a lead instead. I don't read a lot of detective/crime/whodunits so maybe this is how they all play out but this novel doesn't rate very high for me. Actually, it was work just to finish the last 100 pages. The only thing I really know after reading this book is that Gin and Tonic is considered a woman's drink and I won't be reading another detective novel in the remaining 46 or so weeks. I bought it at the Bookware House on 4th. I may release it as a bookcrossing book close to there, too. Out of 5, it's a 1. (294 pages. Total for the year: 2706 pages)

February 8th - Book Nine: Bloodletting and miraculous cures

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Originally uploaded by cherubichomer.

This book is a very good read. I bought it because it won the Giller and I' m not disappointed at all over the purcahse. (I bought it from Bookware House on Broadway at 20% off. It's on sale at the Chapters.ca website for much better than that.) Similar in style to "Jade Peony" by Wayson Choy, another book by a Chinese Canadian, the chapters are narratives from different characters linked to a same story. The writing is very strong and elegant. Sometimes, it was too nicely written...I'm not so well read that I could get into the glamorous writing easily all the time. The story of the discovery of this literary star is as good as the book. Apparently, he found himself on the same boat cruise as Margaret Atwood and he asked her to read it. She obliged and it was off to the races. Good book, buy it now!!!! 5/5 stars. (368 pages. Total for the year: 2412 pages)

February 2nd - Book Eight: Bongwater

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Originally uploaded by
cherubichomer.

I just finished Michael Hornburg's book Bongwater, which I picked up at Camelot Books at West 10th Avenue in Vancouver for $7. Set in Portland,the book is an interesting story about a 20 something slacker guy during the early to late 90s. It reads very easily and the opening chapters of the book really drew me in. The story's plot builds chapter after chapter and then the book just ends. No, there isn't a catastrophic event that satisfies the abrupt ending. Instead, the book just ends. Very disappointing. Possibly, Mr. Hornburg had to meet a deadline. 3/5 stars. I may set this book free via bookcrossings. If you don't know what book crossings is, check it out at www.bookcrossings.com. (208pages. Total for the year: 2044 pages)