DanglingConversations
Ottawa Public Library
DanglingConversations's Completed Shelf
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DanglingConversations's rating:
2.5 out of 5 stars
Added Jan 5, 2021
DanglingConversations's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Jan 5, 2021
Comment:
Interesting to speculate how psychotic Henry VIII was both as a king and as a husband and parent. Makes one glad the Tudor line finally died out.
A very well crafted story, meticulous researched woven into enthralling speculation.
DanglingConversations's rating:
3.5 out of 5 stars
Added Dec 30, 2021
Comment:
This series is becoming formulaic. I did enjoy the plot and a bit of insight into French succession law as well as the EU contributions to marginal farms. But Bruno you are becoming a cliché as Looper46 suggests below
DanglingConversations's rating:
4.5 out of 5 stars
Added Dec 16, 2020
Comment:
Excellent writing and gripping plot, as usual.
Two flaws. Daniel's hatred of his father, Gamache, is unrealistic in an adult son who had two strong parents and a stable middle class family life. Suggesting Daniel could be so damaged because his parent was a cop is an insult to all children who grew up with parents in the military or police force of any other dangerous profession.
And the end moves too fast. I had to re-read the last chapters again to understand what exactly had happened.Excellent writing and gripping plot, as usual.
Two flaws. Daniel's hatred of his father, Gamache, is unrealistic in an adult son who had two strong parents and a stable middle class family life. Suggesting Daniel could be so damaged because his…
DanglingConversations's rating:
2 out of 5 stars
Added Dec 11, 2020
Comment:
Pretty writing but no plot and for the most part, shallow, immature characters. I did not finish the book.
DanglingConversations's rating:
3.5 out of 5 stars
Added Dec 11, 2020
Comment:
By 2020 much in this book is out of date (esp. Neanderthals and sapiens and the previous "out of Africa theory") as genetics and archeology has skyrocketed into a new era. It would be excellent to have an updated version of this book, with author's personal experience woven into some hypothetical stories of how we humans got here.By 2020 much in this book is out of date (esp. Neanderthals and sapiens and the previous "out of Africa theory") as genetics and archeology has skyrocketed into a new era. It would be excellent to have an updated version of this book, with author's…
DanglingConversations's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Dec 5, 2020
Comment:
This is an excellent review of attitudes and legal precedence in recent sexual assault cases in Canada and USA. Doolittle starts with the #me too push-back by women which helped me, as a non-twitter user, to clear up some of the static around this phenomenon. She included a respectful discussion of different attitudes held by older and younger women towards rape and sexualized aggression in society.
This is a good follow-up read for "Know My Name" and should instigate some interesting discussion in both women's and men's book clubsThis is an excellent review of attitudes and legal precedence in recent sexual assault cases in Canada and USA. Doolittle starts with the #me too push-back by women which helped me, as a non-twitter user, to clear up some of the static around this…
The Beat Goes onThe Beat Goes on, Large PrintThe Complete Rebus Stories
by Rankin, IanLarge Print - 2016
DanglingConversations's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Dec 3, 2020
Comment:
A series of short stories starting from Rebus' early career as a detective. A very enjoyable read. good distraction for long COVID nights
DanglingConversations's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Dec 3, 2020
Comment:
Life and social mores in early 20th century Japan had not changed much over the centuries. Women were educated to be wives and family ties dictated the life path of young men. I am not sure if Sosekio was critiquing this society or the weak moral fiber of the young men who chose to go against social expectations.
The reader is drawn into the lives of young men who are emotionally stifled and have no way of finding fulfillment in friendship or in meaningful contribution to society. Well written and an enlightening glimpse of life in a society that , one hopes, no longer exists in 21st century Japan.Life and social mores in early 20th century Japan had not changed much over the centuries. Women were educated to be wives and family ties dictated the life path of young men. I am not sure if Sosekio was critiquing this society or the weak moral…
DanglingConversations's rating:
3.5 out of 5 stars
Added Nov 25, 2020
Comment:
This is a love story set in the horror of WWI and wrapped in magical realism. A clever concept but there was something shallow and sterile in the writing that just left me disappointed.
DanglingConversations's rating:
3.5 out of 5 stars
Added Nov 22, 2020
Comment:
A well written crime novel introducing new characters in small town England. I found the plot a bit draggy, Cleeves trying to be too politically correct, I think. But the depiction of charity fraud and abuse was very true to life. I look forward to reading more of this detectiveA well written crime novel introducing new characters in small town England. I found the plot a bit draggy, Cleeves trying to be too politically correct, I think. But the depiction of charity fraud and abuse was very true to life. I look forward to…
DanglingConversations's rating:
3.5 out of 5 stars
Added Nov 18, 2020
Comment:
Good, solid crime fiction with interesting back story. Some of the dialogue is over-written and assumes the reader has both a very short memory and is not able to pick up subtleties of character and plot development.
The Skin We're inThe Skin We're in, BookA Year of Black Resistance and Power
by Cole, DesmondBook - 2020
DanglingConversations's rating:
5 out of 5 stars
Added Nov 12, 2020
Comment:
I cried. How can this be going in in my country and in my city. Thank you Mr. Cole for documenting the hidden racism in Canada. I hope our Canadian grandchildren never have to shed tears over man's inhumanity to man in our own country.
DanglingConversations's rating:
3 out of 5 stars
Added Nov 9, 2020
Comment:
In these times when malignant capitalism is buying political favour in Western democracies, it is useful to bring out the historical role which wealthy industrialists played in supporting the rise of the Hitler regime. The plot is strong but the writing is flawed. It is off-putting to have to wade through christian proselytizing and awkward projections of the inevitable jejune happy ending. So would someone take this plot and give it to an accomplished writer to depict the tragedy that was the Nazi occupation of Holland.In these times when malignant capitalism is buying political favour in Western democracies, it is useful to bring out the historical role which wealthy industrialists played in supporting the rise of the Hitler regime. The plot is strong but the…
The Darwin EconomyThe Darwin Economy, BookLiberty, Competition, and the Common Good
by Frank, Robert H.Book - 2011
DanglingConversations's rating:
2 out of 5 stars
Added Nov 2, 2020
Comment:
This thesis was developed without reference to more social democracies who do provide basic services to the less fortunate. Especially, his reference to why people buy expensive houses in the better school districts overlooks our Canadian option to have all schools well funded by a tax base spread over the province. A few interesting points but as stated by other reviewers, the premis is still that the ideal ecomomy is based on neo-liberalism.This thesis was developed without reference to more social democracies who do provide basic services to the less fortunate. Especially, his reference to why people buy expensive houses in the better school districts overlooks our Canadian option to…
DanglingConversations's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Nov 2, 2020
Comment:
Strong crime plot and entertaining character development.
A Cat, A Hat and A Piece of StringA Cat, A Hat and A Piece of String, BookStories
by Harris, JoanneBook - 2012
DanglingConversations's rating:
4.5 out of 5 stars
Added Nov 2, 2020
Comment:
Well written. Worth the read if you like short story genre
DanglingConversations's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Nov 2, 2020
Comment:
Beautifully written diary/ travel log by a man returning to his home country and revisiting the cities of his youth.
Becoming Mrs. LewisBecoming Mrs. Lewis, BookThe Improbable Love Story of Joy Davidman and C. S. Lewis : A Novel
by Henry, Patti CallahanBook - 2018
DanglingConversations's rating:
3 out of 5 stars
Added Oct 25, 2020
Comment:
A ersatz biography written in the first person, well researched and well written. However I never did connect with the character of Joy. She was a woman of her time, as the author says, "trying to live an authentic life". As a non-theist I could not relate to her search for meaning in a relationship with a personal god. I love the C.S. Lewis children's books as myth but I take no inspiration from his spiritual pursuits.
So not my kind of book, not my kind of characters, but there is certainly an audience out there who would find comfort and inspiration from this book.A ersatz biography written in the first person, well researched and well written. However I never did connect with the character of Joy. She was a woman of her time, as the author says, "trying to live an authentic life". As a non-theist I could…
The PublicThe Public, DVD
DVD - 2019
DanglingConversations's rating:
2.5 out of 5 stars
Added Oct 21, 2020
Comment:
A humorous story line with a 'Full Monty" ending. But the much of acting/script is a cringe making. The acting of the TV reporter and the 'bad son' was obtuse and the politician was almost as bad.
DanglingConversations's rating:
0.5 out of 5 stars
Added Oct 19, 2020
Comment:
Annoying 'braided' plot line which makes it difficult to engage with the story. Written by Alice in First Person solipsistic the characters lack depth and the dialogue is cliché. I has to skip through most of the chapters it was like a script for a soap opera. I feel cheated out of what could have been a reasonably good story.Annoying 'braided' plot line which makes it difficult to engage with the story. Written by Alice in First Person solipsistic the characters lack depth and the dialogue is cliché. I has to skip through most of the chapters it was like a script for…
DanglingConversations's rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Added Oct 16, 2020
Comment:
This is the back-story to Bernie Gunther and I urge Phillip Kerr's fans to read all of his books.. it does not really matter which order. They are all complete in themselves and provide a well researched and an unusual point of view of life in Nazi Germany during the rise of Hitler right, through WWI to escaping the Nazi hunts in Europe and South America.This is the back-story to Bernie Gunther and I urge Phillip Kerr's fans to read all of his books.. it does not really matter which order. They are all complete in themselves and provide a well researched and an unusual point of view of life in Nazi…
DanglingConversations's rating:
4.5 out of 5 stars
Added Oct 16, 2020
Comment:
On the surface this is a romance novel with a 'happy ever after' ending. The author is a talented writer and the characters are ordinary but oh so subtlety drawn. I liked that the protagonist had an imaginary friendship with the author, Ethel Wilson ( and Prince Charles).
When I closed the book I felt as though I had just had a great visit with an interesting friend. I wanted to know more about what happened to the randy minister and did the lawyer deliberately lose her case, I wonder. How did the other family in Ottawa fare in the long run and did the daughter ever find it in herself to blame her father for his cowardly life as a bigamist?
This is a great book club choice for women of a certain age.On the surface this is a romance novel with a 'happy ever after' ending. The author is a talented writer and the characters are ordinary but oh so subtlety drawn. I liked that the protagonist had an imaginary friendship with the author, Ethel Wilson…
DanglingConversations's rating:
5 out of 5 stars
Added Oct 6, 2020
Comment:
Beautifully written as are all her books and an interesting perspective of the epoch of Alexander the Great as experienced by his valet/confidant. Based on historical documentation we wend our way through some horrific battle scenes. I appreciated the postscript after reading all that aggression and mindless violence that this was a time when war was not immoral. The story of Alexander the Great gives us a depressing insight into the violent and rapacious nature of our species unless humankind can evolve a more benevolent social order.Beautifully written as are all her books and an interesting perspective of the epoch of Alexander the Great as experienced by his valet/confidant. Based on historical documentation we wend our way through some horrific battle scenes. I appreciated…
DanglingConversations's rating:
1.5 out of 5 stars
Added Oct 6, 2020
Comment:
Shallow conniving female characters, dull police investigators, this reads like a harlequin romance superimposed on a crime novel. Fast beach read but totally unmemorable.
Comment: