Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More


Bang Crunch By Neil Smith

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on June 13, 2008
Posted in Books Read 2008CanadaFictionNeil Smith  | 10 Comments

The Art of Short Story




This is Neil Smith’s debut book of 9 short stories. It’s somewhat uneven, like most books of short fiction. Some of the stories were gems and a couple duds.

I especially enjoyed “The B9ers”, the story of a support group for people who had benign tumors. Yes, you read write, the non-lethal variety of tumor. This story was both humorous and touching.

Another story I enjoyed was the title story, “Bang Crunch”. It’s the touching story about a girl born with Fred Hoyle syndrome. First she ages rapidly and then goes backward, back to an embryo again.

There were only 2 stories that I didn’t care for at all. “Green Fluorescent Protein” and “Extremities”. They were just too “out there” for me.

Neil Smith is a strong writer. He writes with sensitivity and wicked humour. Though I didn’t like all the stories in this collection, I highly recommend it. The stories I enjoyed were well worth the time!

3.5/5

Note: If you have also reviewed this book, please feel free to post you link in the comments. I will then add it to the end of my review.

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

A Perfect Night to Go to China By David Gilmour

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on June 8, 2008
Posted in Books Read 2008CanadaDavid GilmourFiction  | 6 Comments

Heartbreaking but Unbelievable

The book opens with Roman tucking his 6-year-old son in for the night. He then decides to leave the house, with his son in it, to go to a bar down the street for a quick drink. He’s gone about 15 minutes. When he returns, his son is missing.

Throughout the book we follow Roman on a remorseful journey. A journey of regret, sorrow, relationship problems, searching, and all those things that normally go with loss.
I really wanted to like this book and I did, I just didn’t love it. David Gilmour really has a way with words, and this really shines through. His mature prose was sometimes poetic, sparkled with some dark humour.
The major problem I had with this book was that every time Roman would dream, they would be in sequence. It’s like he planned it that way and he could do this at will. We don’t dream that way. I sometimes wish we did, because I have had dreams that I wish would continue the next time that I fell asleep. LOL!
I think with Gilmour’s talent, he could have done much more with this book. That said, this is the first David Gilmour book I have read, but I will definitely try another.
3/5
Note: If you have also reviewed this book, please feel free to post you link in the comments. I will then add it to the end of my review.
Copyright 2007-2010: All the posts within this blog were originally posted by Teddy Rose and should not be reproduced without express written permission.

An Hour With Miriam Toews

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on March 31, 2008
Posted in FictionMiriam Toews  | 6 Comments


Friday night I had the pleasure of seeing Miriam Toews live. She did a reading of ‘A Complicated Kindness’ and of her new book that is coming out in October. Then she did a question and answer with the audience.

I loved her book ‘A Complicated Kindness’! It’s a coming of age story about a teenage girl in a Mennonite society. Unfortunately, I read it long before I started writing book reviews, so you will just have to trust me on this one.

Miriam made a comment at the beginning of her reading, that in the past, people have complained that she reads too fast. She did read fast, especially when the lead character was speaking. However, she paced it exactly how I imagined the character to talk. She nailed it, and other audience members agreed!

I really enjoyed her reading and especially the question and answer. I highly recommend you read ‘A Complicated Kindness’ and see Miriam Toews in person, if you get the chance. She is delightful. I look forward to reading more books by Miriam Toews!

A complicated Kindness was also reviewed at:
book-a-rama

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