Company Town – a book response

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Company Town

*The following post contains affiliate links. TrishBlogs receives a small percentage of compensation for purchases made via these links.

Company Town is a book that reminded me of an Atwood style novel. A little challenging at first, but once the momentum gets going, very difficult to put down. The dystopian/futuristic theme is fascinating and creates great thought/discussion about issues of today as well. It reminded me also of the Hunger Games, which I didn’t read – but my girls did, and then insisted I watch the movies with them.

I read Company Town as part of my 50 Book Pledge, however I was drawn to it because it was also on Canada Reads for 2017. That said upon reading it, I wasn’t sure I’d ever recommend it as one of the books *everyone in Canada MUST READ today*.

I think there are some important themes addressed in the novel, but not as clearly as some others have done with them. I enjoyed this book and am thinking about which Atwood novel I should pick up next J

Kobo:

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Making a difference, one little thing at a time… according to Malcolm Gladwell’s “The Tipping Point”

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The Tipping Point:

How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference

Since posting my 2017 Books Read list (read so far that is), I have finished nine more books.  I hope to give my response (not review), to the books, and how they have some impact on my life.

Most recently,

I finished the audio version of  The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference, by Malcolm Gladwell.

Malcolm is an author who was referenced in a couple of different podcasts I’ve been listening to. In The Tipping Point the author talks about how epidemics occur. He provides many examples of the multiple factors that have to accumulate before a difference is made thus reaching a Tipping Point that sets the epidemic in motion. It is an interesting perspective to consider.

What’s the difference?

I’m not sure if it was the topic, the stories or how at times the next story was well in hand before the connection became clear, or perhaps it is simply the soothing nature of the author’s voice, but I found myself losing my focus and missing bits & pieces of the book. That said I found myself interested in reading his other books to see what other insights the Malcolm Gladwell imparts. I am currently reading “Outliers” in ebook format.

Kobo:

*The above post contains affiliate links. TrishBlogs receives a small percentage of compensation for purchases made via these links.

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Drop me a note in the comments below, or connect with me on Twitter @ceilidhontherun or email me at trish at trishblogs dot com!

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Book list for 2017… (Books read so far)

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I used to document each  book I’ve read and responses to them. I’d like to get back to that. Once I get caught up, I may work backwards and share some of the responses I’ve had to books I’ve already read this year.

Self Portrait, Reading, Book

To start I’ll share my book list read so far in 2017:

 

, Sheila Watt-Cloutier

, Rajiv Surendra

, Kristin Hannah

, Karyn L. Freedman

, Robert J. Sawyer

, Andre Alexis

, Gretchen Reuben

, Sarah Blake

, Marian Keyes

, Dave Kerpen

, Tami Stackelhouse

, Simon Sinek

, Greg Morgtenson

, Nia Vardalos

, Trevor Noah

, Linden MacIntyre

, Tami Stackelhouse

, Linden MacIntyre

, Malika Oufkir

, Nicholas Sparks

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Drop me a note in the comments below, or connect with me on Twitter @ceilidhontherun or email me at trish at trishblogs dot com!

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Filed Under: 50BookPledge, Books, General, Health & Fitness, Leadership, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , ,

Fifty Shades of Grey – 50BookPledge – Book 10

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Fifty Shades of Grey – 50BookPledge – Book 10

Well, here I am mid-June, and am halfway through reading book 11 – it’s not looking good for the 50BookPledge, but I’ll keep plugging away and see how close I actually get in the year. Book 9 was not a planned read by any means. I started hearing about this wildfire spreading around the controversial soft porn / erotic fiction of E L James’ Fifty Shades of Grey: Book One of the Fifty Shades Trilogy. I was curious to see if it stood up to the murmurings.

 

I was sorely disappointed. I’m not a connoisseur of erotic fiction by any means. I have occasionally picked up some smut for the pure enjoyment of reading something that required no thought and very little imagination. The topic of S & M was poorly addressed in my opinion, the erotic scenes – while descriptive were not shockingly so – other novels I’ve read that were not touted as erotic fiction have been more so – albeit that was not the focus of the story. The writing was mediocre. I honestly found myself reading purely in hopes of finding the redeeming quality that would make all of the talk I’d heard seem worthy.

I won’t be reading books 2 & 3 of the series. Nor will I recommend the book to anyone who asks.

 

 

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The Divine Ryans – 50 Book Pledge – Book 9

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I enjoyed The Divine Ryans by Wayne Johnston more than most that I’ve read recently. Another book club book, and one I actually made it through before we met! I’m not one for writing reviews per say, my response to this book was that of frustration, disgust with close-minded thinking… relief that we’ve come so far. Dismay at how far we still have to go.

 

I found myself outraged and yelling (silently) at the family to open their eyes and treat one another with the respect they deserve, especially the children.

 

I love reading books by Canadian authors. I love getting that perspective of what life was like in different communities across the country. This one gives insight into a largely Catholic Newfoundland community at a time when the church and businesses seemed to be strongly linked, yet gradually separating.

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Love or hate? The Sisters Brothers – 50BookPledge – Book 7

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The themes of The Sisters Brothers story mirrored the response of our book club. There was a real contrast in the characters and the story they were living. A couple of murderers at odds with one another and the motivation behind their work, one seeking a more meaningful life that might even allow love to be a part of it.

Half of the book club loved this book. They loved how different it was from our other reads (and yet each of those so unique in and of themselves). They loved the characters, the humour in what they did and the lives they lived, and the tragedy of it all. The other half hated it. One couldn’t finish it. I actually enjoyed it until about 2/3’s through. I disliked the last third. I struggled with reading it. I found myself asking why we had chosen this book? Just whose suggestion was it any way?

All in all it was not a bad read. I don’t feel like I wasted a significant number of hours I’ll never get back, but I wouldn’t pick it up again, or recommend it.

#50BookPledge

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The Virgin Cure – #50bookpledge – book 5

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Today I completed book number 5 of the 50 book pledge!

Our book club is reading The Virgin Cure by Ami McKay this month. I downloaded it to my e-reader on my tablet for the ability to read on the bus, at the dr.’s office, etc. It was a surprisingly light read for the topic. I really enjoyed it and can’t wait for our discussion at book club!

I have her first book The Birth House, just waiting on my bookshelf, received for Christmas too!

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Here on Earth – a review – #tbr2012 #50bookpledge

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This year I have taken on a few challenges to help me meet a few of my goals, as I posted previously one of them is the 2012 To Be Read challenge. I am reading 12 books this year that have been on my to be read shelf(ves) for more than a year.

I completed my first one this week! I am so excited. This has also allowed me to complete book number 4 of the 50 book pledge!

Here On Earth by Alice Hoffman was one of Oprah’s picks on her show. I’ve been told of mixed reviews of it, but I truly enjoyed reading this book. There is something a little dark about it that reminded me of Steinbeck’s East of Eden (my all time favourite book). The portrayal of domestic violence/woman abuse was pretty eye-opening for those who may not have thought about it much. Without giving the story away, I felt the ending was appropriate in that this could have gone on and on, if she wanted it to mirror real life scenarios (where women leave (and return) an abusive relationship an average of 7 times before leaving for good).

A fairly quick read of a dark romance.


Filed Under: 50BookPledge, balance, Books, Reviews, TBR 2012, West Nova Family Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

#50BookPledge / Book 3

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Posting this purely to help meet my #50bookpledge.  This week I read a trashy novel to distract my mind  a bit: I don’t really have anything worth writing about it other than to say it did the trick:

Slow Hands

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Book 2 #50BookPledge / You Don’t Need a Job! You Need Guts

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Book 2 of the #50BookPledge

You Don’t Need a Job! You Need Guts
Click here to view more details
by Ashley Ambirge

~Founder, The Middle Finger Project

I have been following Ashley’s e-newsletter for sometime now. When she announced the launch of this book I jumped at the chance to pre-purchase it at the discounted price. I needed to know HOW. How do I make a living online, working from home or anywhere else a darn well please? (Okay I am not as brave as Ashley when it comes to freedom of language, but you get my drift). How do I do it? And how do I find the guts to do so?

I started reading as soon as it was released, then life happened. If you’ve read any of my blog over the last 2 months’ posts you have a small understanding of what I mean. It just totally got in the way, and the reading and the planning and the action, got pushed to the backburner. But now I am ready to start my own momentum going, and I started with reading Ashley’s ebook, and another great new website I found (I will review one of her ebooks soon as well).


Ashley follows a similar philosophy on life as Chris Guillebeau, whose book Art of Non-Conformity I reviewed last year. And the fact is, this is the kind of life I want. One with the freedom to go, do and be – where and what I please. One with the satisfaction of making a difference, leaving a legacy, knowing that it meant something to me and to those my activities effected.

Ashley offers some really great tips on how to go about getting started, including step by step guidance in setting up the mechanism(s) for income. Some of this was confirmation of information I already had, some of it was brand new (and exciting). Ashley’s book has given me the know-how to set in motion the dreaming I have not yet put feet to. It’s time, and I have Ashley to thank for resources to help me get started!



*Edit 9:15pm 11 Jan 2012 This is now an affiliate link, I love this book that much!   🙂

You Don’t Need a Job! You Need Guts
Click here to view more details

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Drop me a note in the comments below, or connect with me on Twitter @ceilidhontherun, email me at ceilidho at ceilidhontherun dot com, or use my contact form!

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