CANADA

 Mike Myers. CANADA. Penguin Random House, 2016.

This is a love letter to Myer's homeland, written for Canada's sesquicentennial,150 years of confederation since 1867. Who knew that he grew up in the low-rental high-rises in North Toronto and Scarborough? 

It is fascinating as a study of nature and nurture, of how a creative person creates a career. Born into a family of recent immigrants from Liverpool. To a father whose highest expectation was finding the humour, making people laugh. Who made connections -- dance lessons to commercials. Who honed skills in work and in schools designed to nurture the arts. Who toured with Second City as a teenager. Went to England for what? The experience. The challenge. To a six year contract on SNL where he was "the Kid". He does not get into his later successes with movies, Wayne's World, Austin Powers, but that's probably because he has already written books about those years.

He doesn't spend a lot of time on the bad "learning" experiences except for his father's illness and death. He focuses his grief instead on his beloved Canada's seeming to lose its way, to abandon its dream of being the next great nation, of figuring out who we are and who we want to be and articulating those in a mission statement. It is inspiring in a way although perhaps dating too easily because of its seeming emphasis on the "great man" theory of leadership, that someone, some great leader, is required before progress can be made. It also suffers from his being so absent and unaware of current issues, especially the on-going challenge to correct the relationship between Canada, the people, the government , and the Indigenous peoples. Not even mentioned, and the cause of much grief up here.

All in all, an enjoyable and enlightening read.

PRINCE CHARLES

Sally Bedell Smith. PRINCE CHARLES: The PASSIONS and PARADOXES of an IMPROBABLE LIFE. Random 2017.

My Victoria Day weekend project, 507 pages on the life of a complicated man about whom I have always been interested because I was born 32 days after he was. I refused to accept this book until I was assured that it is not another trash piece. I was pleasantly surprised by the biographer's clear-eyed grasp of the mental health issues behind the failure of Diana to emerge as a suitable supportive princess wife. I like how Smith portrays the positives in Camilla's character and the importance of her as a source of love in an otherwise barren-seeming landscape of castles and duchies. Smith seems not to appreciate Prince Philip's role in setting the family tone, nor the Queen's dilemma in feeling that her duty to the monarchy had to be put before her parental responsibilities. Smith also seems to have no concept of Canada or of Elizabeth as our Queen. Nor does she seem to recognize how most of Charles' unfashionable passions (with the possible exception of homeopathy) have come full circle are are now dominating geopolitics. Most notably, environmentalism and climate change, but also the importance of spirituality in developing a love and respect for nature, and all other forms of life. And for the importance of the lived built environment, buildings and cities, to be human and community-centric.  

It also strikes me that all the things we hate about on-line culture--personal attacks, lack of focus on issues, hiding behind anonymity, using rumour and scandal-mongering as click-bait, presentation of opinion as if it is fact--are all part of the tabloid press so destructive in Britain and America. 

NO MAN'S NIGHTINGALE

 Ruth Rendell. NO MAN'S NIGHTINGALE. Scribner, 2013.

Retired inspector Reg Wexford, hounded by his talkative cleaning lady, mulls over the murder of the local vicar, a compassionate and strong single mother.

CARELESS LOVE

 Peter Robinson. CARELESS LOVE: An Inspector Banks Novel. McC&S, 2018

A body found "placed" in an abandoned car. A body found at the base of a cliff. A body found in a ruined bothy. Jurisdictions overlap. Is it murder? Is there a serial killer? 

STATE OF TERROR

 Hilary Rodham Clinton & Louise Penny. STATE OF TERROR. SimonSchusterStMartins, 2021.

A thriller about international intrigue and treason. How does anyone sleep at night? Happy to see Canada mentioned. 

BIRDIE

Tracey Lindberg. BIRDIE. HarperCollins, 2015.

An intriguing concept--an Indigenous woman, Cree from northern Alberta, moves to Gibson's because she is obsessed with actor Pat John, who played Jesse in The Beachcombers series. I really like the use of Cree words and modern versions of Cree legends used to anchor each chapter. I was confused by the reference to "the San" which I assumed meant a TB Sanatorium but is instead a reference to a mental hospital in Edmonton. Bernice (Birdie) suffers recurring mental health challenges stemming from unaddressed childhood trauma and unresolved grief. Her aunt Val, cousin Freda, and employer Lola rally around her. Not an easy read but the style alone is enough to warrant a second reading. Love the cover illustration also. 

RUNNING BLIND

Lee Child. RUNNING BLIND: A Jack Reacher Mystery. Penguin/Random, 2000.

Published in the UK as THE VISITOR. Reacher is under surveillance as he does one of his Good Samaritan acts to assist a restauranteur being extorted. He finds himself under arrest and transported to Quantico where his expertise is used to track a serial killer seemingly targeting female former military personnel who resigned after complaining about sexual harassment. Setting ranges from New York to Spokane.