Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More


This review is part of the Green Books campaign.Today 200 bloggers take a stand to support books printed in an eco-friendly manner by simultaneously publishing reviews of 200 books printed on recycled or FSC-certified paper. By turning a spotlight on books printed using eco- friendly paper, we hope to raise the awareness of book buyers and encourage everyone to take the environment into consideration when purchasing books.

The campaign is organized for the second time by Eco-Libris, a green company working to make reading more sustainable. We invite you to join the discussion on “green” books and support books printed in an eco-friendly manner! A full list of participating blogs and links to their reviews is available on Eco-Libris website.


This book is green because it was made with ancient-forest friendly paper.

The year was 1845 and Sir John Franklin and his crews on the Terror and the Erebus set sail on a mission to find the Northwest Passage.  Everyone, 129 men ultimately perished on the mission.  On the Proper Use of Stars is the fictionalized story of what happened. 

Francis Crozier was second in command and kept a journal where he wrote day to day about the mission but also about the woman of his dreams, Sophia.  Back in England Lady Jane Franklin and her niece, Sophia kept busy while waiting to hear word from Sir John Franklin.  After three years have passed Lady Jane used everything and everyone at her disposal to convince the Admiralty to send out a search party.  They refused again and again.  

I took me quite awhile to get into the story.  I found the beginning quite dull.  It wasn’t until things started to happen in the story that the pace picked up for me.   This book is translated, so I’m not sure if that could be part of the problem or not.  I did find the writing quite poetic and as the story got going it was very visual.  Ultimately, I warmed up to the story and enjoyed it.

3.5/5

Thanks to The Green Books Campaign for including me and arranging to have the book sent to me.  

If you reviewed this book, please leave a link in the comments and I will post it here.

Copyright 2007-2010: All the posts within this blog were originally posted by Teddy Rose and should not be reproduced without express written permission.

Riff-Raff by Heather O’Neill

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on September 7, 2010
Posted in CanadianShort Story Read in 2010 

Heather O’Neill is the author of Lullabies for Little Criminalswhich, is on my TBR (to be read).  I thought I could get a tase of her writing by reading one of her short stories.

Riff-Raff is narrated by an un-named 19 year old woman from Montreal.  She is in a bad relationship with a man, Leroy, whom she met at McGill University.  She claims that, “I prayed that I would have the strength to leave him, but I never did.”

As her first year of school was coming to an end, she met an “American boy” and she decided it was time to change her life.  She was going to follow the  American back to New Mexico.  Her father paid for the Greyhound Bus ticket and she had $80 to cover meals for the three day trip.  However, in St. Louis something happened. 

I don’t want to spoil the story, so this is all I will tell you.  

This is a truly Canadian story.  In fact, Ms. O’Neill throws in some Canadian Steriotypes into her story telling.  I liked Ms. O’Neill’s writing style however, I am finding the devise of making fun of Americans using Canadian Stereotypes a bit old.  Because of this, I wasn’t too crazy about the overall plot and the ending was lame.

That said, I would like to read more by Heather O’Neill.  She does show great writing potential.  You can read Riff-Raff here.

Also reviewed by:

The Book Mine Set

If you would like to participate in Short Story Mondays, go to John of The Book Mine Set. He has a short story review every Monday and a place for you to link your short story review. Come join in the fun!
 

Copyright 2007-2010: All the posts within this blog were originally posted by Teddy Rose and should not be reproduced without express written permission.

Caribou Song / atihko Nikamon by Tomson Highway

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on November 9, 2009
Posted in CanadianChildren's BooksTomson Highway  | 6 Comments

Brothers, Joe and Cody live with their mother and father. They don’t live in any one place, rather they follow the caribou all winter long. Joe and Cody love to play, dance, and sing and they often sing a song while they travel, to attract the caribou.

This is a wonderful adventure book that children of all cultures will enjoy. The Illustrations by Brian Denies are stunning. Give your children a treat and a small glimpse into Cree culture, read this book with them.
Written in both English and Cree, Caribou Song is the first in a trilogy of children’s books. I plan to read the other two as well, so stay tuned.

Also reviewed by:

Books and Quilts

Copyright 2007-2010: All the posts within this blog were originally posted by Teddy Rose and should not be reproduced without express written permission.