Showing posts with label Canadian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Canadian. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Tangles by Sarah Leavitt

Book Information
Leavitt, Sarah. Tangles: A Story About Alzheimer’s, My Mother and Me. Calgary, Alberta: Freehand Books, September 2010.

My Review
Tangles is Sarah Leavitt's first book, and is a current finalist for the Alberta's Reader's Choice Award (to be awarded in June, 2011). Leavitt's decision to describe her family's odyssey with Alzheimer's in the graphic novel format is quite inspired -- readers can easily see and begin to understand the changes that Alzheimer's causes.

The drawings are black and white and simple, but quite demonstrative. The way in which Leavitt drew "holding hands" by drawing two connected arms is a visual demonstration of the family's love for one another. This book is filled with the many moments of frustration, love, sadness and humour that are experienced by families who care for people with memory challenges. Sarah Leavitt's mother, Midge, was really blessed to have a family who loved and cared for her so deeply.

More Reading for Caregivers/Families of Individuals with Alzheimer's/Dementia

The Sunshine On My Face By Lydia Burdick is a picture book designed to stimulate conversations with older adults who have Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia.

My Notes
This book was difficult for me to review (in several drafts!), particularly because I cared for my grandmother, who had dementia. Sarah Leavitt has done a wonderful job of depicting the frustrations (and the few joys!) of memory challenges.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Mr. M: The Exploring Dreamer

Book Information
Meister, Soizick. Mr. M: The Exploring Dreamer. Vancouver, Canada: Read Leaf, 2010.

My Summary and Review
The enigmatic Mr. M explores his thoughts and a Canadian Surrealist landscape.

This book is poetic and beautifully illustrated (acrylics on wood or canvas). A deliciously slow read: savour each sentence, and have a dictionary close at hand.

My Notes
Generally, I expect picture books to have rhyming couplets, or at the very least, to star children. At first, I only gave this book a brief glance before sharing it with others, who enjoyed it. I gave it a second chance, and was better able to appreciate the symbolism and the art!

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life

Book Information
Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life by Brian Lee O'Malley. Oni Press, 2004.

My Summary and Review
By playing in a rock band and dating a cute girl, Scott Pilgrim leads an ideal life for a twentysomething artist. Then, along comes Ramona Flowers (and her evil ex) whom Scott must defeat if he wants to date Ramona.



If readers are looking for complex characters, they will not find any here. "Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life" offers readers a fast read that leaves them hungry for more and eager to see Scott develop, mature, and find creative ways of defeating Ramona's exes. The real highlight of this book is the musical rock band climax, where Scott and one of Ramona's exes "duke it out" comically in song. Canadians will also enjoy seeing Toronto's skyline prominently drawn on one of the pages.