Tag: Canada

Book Review: Bitter, Sweet by Laura A. Best

Bitter, Sweet by Laura BestBook Reviewed: Bitter, Sweet
Author: Laura A. Best
Genre: Young Adult; historical fiction
Pages: 144
Price: $10.95
Released: October 2009
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing, Halifax, NS
My rating: Great read for young adults and adults of all ages

In December 2009 I read Bitter, Sweet by Laura A. Best.  Her book was released in October of that year and late in November I purchased a copy at a local bookstore the day Laura was doing a book signing.  It was a pleasure to meet her in person.  I urge you to take the opportunity to meet authors when they are putting themselves out there to meet the public at book signings.

This week I re-read Bitter, Sweet and I must say that I enjoyed it even more the second time through.

Laura based her story in Dalhousie Road, Nova Scotia, Canada, in the 1940’s after World War ll, and captured a glimpse of the history of rural Nova Scotia sixty years ago. The family she created comes alive with interesting authentic dialogue and cleverly written point of view that holds the reader’s attention.  I was drawn in right from the first words in chapter one.

The Burbidge family of six moved around a lot, but then finally settled into an old house in a secluded area.  They struggled to get by, especially when the father went away to work and soon stopped sending money home.  With him not in the picture anymore, and their mother becoming very ill, the four children have to learn how to survive and stay together should they end up alone.  Their mother teaches well her older daughter, Pru.

Laura wrote in a way that lures the reader emotionally into the lives of this family whose story is told mainly by Pru.  I found I was dismayed by the actions of one child, annoyed by the attitude of a nosy overbearing neighbour and disappointed by a trusted adult who turned out to be untrustworthy in a time of need.  I felt the desperation of the children and sided with them in their trying situations.

Without giving away the story  – in case you haven’t yet read Bitter, Sweet – I will hint that the challenges of life touched by those who had gone before added an interesting dimension to the story.  There are unexpected twists and the reader is left with unanswered questions to answer however one wishes, and not in a disappointing way.

I encourage you to add Bitter, Sweet – by Laura A. Best – to your library.  It has received much attention since its debut and is a book well worth reading – twice!

You can find Bitter, Sweet listed on my BUY THE BOOK! page.

Watch for an upcoming interview with Laura A. Best.

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings!   🙂

Day 11: NaNoWriMo & PiBoIdMo & Remembrance Day

Day 11 (Thursday) of NaNoWriMo I was able to eke out 1415 words, which took my total up to 14131.  Because my word count has been low each day this week, I am behind by 4206 words.  Since I am writing this post after midnight (now into Friday) my stats tell me “At this rate you will finish on Dec 12.”  Judging by that, I have a lot of writing to do to catch up.  The first three days of this writing challenge I was ahead but that didn’t last long.  I’m up to 29% completion, though, which is encouraging.

I’m still finding that my characters are very chatty, especially my MC (main character) and her best friend.  Yes they are girls, but girls are usually more expressive and use more words, are more creative in thought.  So, I get girls as my main characters and much of my story is dialogue.  I say “I get” because I didn’t choose them, they chose me.

Any writers out there relating to this?

For Day 11 of PiBoIdMo three ideas came to me.  As picture books, one would make a child think, one would be comforting, one would be funny.  I am so inspired by these challenges and finding them to be quite fun.  🙂

Today (Thursday) was Remembrance Day.  Here in Nova Scotia we give honour to our war Veterans, but that same respect is not practiced in every province.   That is sad and unfortunate.  If our Canadian soldiers in World War II had not put forth the effort and sacrifice that they did, this world would be a lot different now as Hitler was winning the war.  But, I won’t get on a tirade about that now.  😉  I’m just proud of my dad and very touched by what he and thousands of others chose to do for this country’s freedom.

Have you really thought about how different a world we could be living in?

And my question for you writers is .. do you create your characters or do they choose you?

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings!  🙂

 

 

Different Thanksgiving day, same thanks giving

Here it is already a few days past Thanksgiving.  Our weather has changed from a week of above normal temperatures for this time of year, to the next week’s cooler than normal temperatures for this time of year.  Strange weather persists, but .. I honestly believe it is all part of Earth’s natural cycle.  Just look back in history.  Still, no matter the varied opinions on that, we have much for which to be thankful.

Thanksgiving here in Nova Scotia, Canada, was a windy but colourful day.  The leaves have changed colour and many that have let go of their tree’s branches are now either blowing in the breezes or are already part of the Designer‘s carpet covering the ground.  Very pretty.

I have been asked why is our Thanksgiving earlier than USA’s?  Well, our harvest comes a little earlier due to the fact that we are further north.

In Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday of October to give thanks for a successful harvest, but was first started in 1578 as a thanks for surviving the long journey from England.  In 1621, settlers in what is now the USA celebrated a bountiful harvest with the Wampanoag Indians who helped them survive. It now is celebrated the fourth Thursday of November in remembrance of those Pilgrims who settled the ‘new world.’

My family always has a big dinner on the Sunday, as do many families, even though our actual Thanksgiving Day is on Monday.  It is a day we spend together (after church for some of us) enjoying the produce of our gardens and a beautifully cooked turkey.  And yes, we eat too much.  But who can resist all those wonderful veggies and the selection of pies?  Yum!

God has made ample provision for us in our two nations.  We have so much for which to be thankful.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise; be thankful unto Him and bless His name. – Psalm 100:4

How do you celebrate Thanksgiving?  Do you observe any traditions at this time of year?

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings!  🙂

 

ends and beginnings

This week we are experiencing a heat wave in Nova Scotia.  As we enter hurricane season, Hurricane Earl is making its way up the eastern coastline, and we here are enjoying (or not!) the high temperatures and heavy humidity.  By the time Earl arrives on our shores its hurricane status is expected to be downgraded to tropical storm strength.  That means we will get lots of wind and rain but with less fury, and probably some areas will suffer damage, but because the storm keeps veering a little off the course it was on we do not yet know for certain how much of the province will take the brunt of it.  One good thing is that the storm will sweep the humidity away with its passing, and the temperatures will lessen by more than ten degrees making it seem quite cool in comparison to what we are enduring now.  (I want to make it clear that I am not complaining – because Summer is far too short – but the high heat and humidity combination really drains one’s energy.)

For awhile this evening my husband and I stood out on our deck enjoying the refreshing evening breeze, which is cooler than what the fans can push around in our house.  I love looking at the sky filled with stars, and listening to the night sounds.  How amazing it all is!  Now the crickets are chirping steadily, a sure sign of the end of Summer.  This morning I heard another flock of geese honking loudly in unison as they flew over, another sure sign of the oncoming Autumn.

And today …. today our darling little grandson started school!  How can it be this all-important day so soon?!  He was excited to climb onto that big yellow school bus, taking him into the next phase of his precious life.  (Later over the telephone he told us he enjoyed his first day of school.)

I remember my very first day of school.  It was horrible; I was so painfully shy.  And to add to the problem, I had become very ill with tonsillitis during that summer and had to have a tonsillectomy just before school began.  Of course, that meant that I was unable to start at the same time as the other children, which made it even more difficult.

So … do you remember your very first day of school?  What kind of memory making day was it for you?

Thanks for reading, and … Creative Musings! 🙂