DanglingConversations
Ottawa Public Library
DanglingConversations's Completed Shelf
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DanglingConversations's rating:
Added Mar 26, 2024
DanglingConversations's rating:
Added Mar 26, 2024
Comment:
An acquired taste in the Miss Marple genre of crime mysteries. I have read a few of his previous novels, this one is the best translation of the lot. It is more nuanced that earlier novel. Overall this series is an interesting peek into Japanese mind-set.An acquired taste in the Miss Marple genre of crime mysteries. I have read a few of his previous novels, this one is the best translation of the lot. It is more nuanced that earlier novel. Overall this series is an interesting peek into Japanese…
The Big ExitThe Big Exit, BookThe Surprisingly Urgent Challenge of Handling the Remains of A Billion Boomers
by Sutton, IanBook - 2023Book, 2023
DanglingConversations's rating:
Added Mar 26, 2024
Comment:
Very interesting discussion of the "Baby Boomer Exit" and the impact it will have on the environment as well as on traditional cultural death practices and the funeral industry in general. Canadian author includes international as well as Canadian perspective of the funeral industry.Very interesting discussion of the "Baby Boomer Exit" and the impact it will have on the environment as well as on traditional cultural death practices and the funeral industry in general. Canadian author includes international as well as Canadian…
DanglingConversations's rating:
Added Mar 26, 2024
Comment:
A great Sci-fi novel with a complicated and satisfying plot.
DanglingConversations's rating:
Added Mar 19, 2024
DanglingConversations's rating:
Added Mar 19, 2024
Comment:
there is an interesting Japanese flavour to the crime and i find the thought process of the clever detective uniquely Asian. However the actual writing is like a 'weak' Agatha Christie novel. Requires a lot of skimming to get through the boring parts.there is an interesting Japanese flavour to the crime and i find the thought process of the clever detective uniquely Asian. However the actual writing is like a 'weak' Agatha Christie novel. Requires a lot of skimming to get through the boring…
DanglingConversations's rating:
Added Mar 08, 2024
Comment:
The story brings up some very serious issues around grief and loss. Previous stories were more pithy and initially i missed the sharp repartee. But in the end it was indeed a "slam dunk" a mix of both crime novel and a reflection of the human condition 'being towards death".The story brings up some very serious issues around grief and loss. Previous stories were more pithy and initially i missed the sharp repartee. But in the end it was indeed a "slam dunk" a mix of both crime novel and a reflection of the human…
Added Mar 05, 2024
Comment:
Surprise This book is in French. I was looking forward to reading it in English.
DanglingConversations's rating:
Added Mar 05, 2024
Comment:
An eye-opening expose of the drug culture in our major cities. I learned a lot but Dr Lam has done a disservice to his readership. No ethical doctor would get that involved with his patient in an effort to help them overcome addiction. The drug studies were a fantasy and anyone with any background in medicine would recognize that the protocols would never pass an ethics committee. So worth the read but lots of errors that a medical doctor should not have portrayed even in a novel.An eye-opening expose of the drug culture in our major cities. I learned a lot but Dr Lam has done a disservice to his readership. No ethical doctor would get that involved with his patient in an effort to help them overcome addiction. The drug…
DanglingConversations's rating:
Added Feb 19, 2024
Comment:
This is well written with lyrical dialogue and bone chilling descriptions of deprivation and the rugged beauty of nature. The story itself is grim and depressing; this is not 'escape literature'.
DanglingConversations's rating:
Added Feb 18, 2024
Comment:
I generally do not like short stories and this did not change my preference. Two of the stories were good, the rest did not spark joy nor interest.
DanglingConversations's rating:
Added Feb 18, 2024
Comment:
thank goodness there was satisfactory closure, otherwise it is a grim read and the poor treatment of porters by CN rail is a scandal that deserves to be in print. Thank you to the author for this well researched book. I will never board a train without thinking of Baxter and his ilk.thank goodness there was satisfactory closure, otherwise it is a grim read and the poor treatment of porters by CN rail is a scandal that deserves to be in print. Thank you to the author for this well researched book. I will never board a train…
DanglingConversations's rating:
Added Feb 14, 2024
Comment:
Great read, fast moving plot with colourful female characters. I am going back to read more.
DanglingConversations's rating:
Added Feb 01, 2024
Comment:
It helps to start by reading the "afterward" to know which characters are historical and which are fiction. Overall a great read, well researched and insightful into life for "better off" slaves in antebellum south. the time braiding to modern Washington was distracting and faddish. A bit of flash-forward would have been interesting but the back and forth in time distracted from the fraught plot development.It helps to start by reading the "afterward" to know which characters are historical and which are fiction. Overall a great read, well researched and insightful into life for "better off" slaves in antebellum south. the time braiding to modern…
LivingLiving, DVD
DVD - 2023DVD, 2023
DanglingConversations's rating:
Added Jan 26, 2024
Comment:
Excellent cinematic settings from 1950's during slow progress with war restoration in London. An interesting study of the British civil service mind set. Ending was a bit schmaltzy but otherwise well worth the watch.
Unstoppable UsUnstoppable Us, BookVol. 1, How Humans Took Over the World
by Harari, Yuval N.Book - 2022Book, 2022
DanglingConversations's rating:
Added Jan 25, 2024
Comment:
The audience is 8-12 year old's but I read it to my grandchildren and enjoyed the story. It is a bit oversimplistic of course and the blame for the loss of other branches of humanity does not take into account disease, climate change etc. but blames Homo sapiens for the disappearance, Hence "unstoppable us" Still it is a good morality tale and an opportunity for serious discussion around the dinner table.The audience is 8-12 year old's but I read it to my grandchildren and enjoyed the story. It is a bit oversimplistic of course and the blame for the loss of other branches of humanity does not take into account disease, climate change etc. but blames…
DanglingConversations's rating:
Added Jan 25, 2024
Comment:
Translated from original French this is a well written book The violence and death is mostly implied so not a lot of graphic description but overall terribly sad. An interesting insight into a story of a family who decided not to leave France because they could not believe the government would co-operate with the Nazis to exterminate Jews. Many common heroes and many cowardly collaborators. I cried while reading the book and I am glad I read it.Translated from original French this is a well written book The violence and death is mostly implied so not a lot of graphic description but overall terribly sad. An interesting insight into a story of a family who decided not to leave France…
Faulks On FictionFaulks On Fiction, BookGreat British Characters And The Secret Life Of The Novel
by Faulks, SebastianBook - 2011Book, 2011
DanglingConversations's rating:
Added Jan 17, 2024
Comment:
This book needs to be read in short bursts. At times it seemed the author was in the room with me expounding on his insights into these classic characters in fiction. This would make a great compendium for a curated reading list for a book club discussion.This book needs to be read in short bursts. At times it seemed the author was in the room with me expounding on his insights into these classic characters in fiction. This would make a great compendium for a curated reading list for a book club…
Marie CurieMarie Curie, DVDthe courage of knowledge = Marie Curie et la lumière bleue
DVD - 2018 | FrenchDVD, 2018. Language: French
DanglingConversations's rating:
Added Jan 17, 2024
Comment:
Beautifully done but English sub titles are in a small font which is very difficult to read. It helps to understand a bit of French to go along with the sub-titles.
DanglingConversations's rating:
Added Jan 06, 2024
DanglingConversations's rating:
Added Jan 06, 2024
The kingdom of dreams and madnessThe kingdom of dreams and madness, DVDThe kingdom of dreams and madnessThe kingdom of dreams and madnessYume to kyoki no ōkoku
DVD - 2013 | JapaneseDVD, 2013. Language: Japanese
DanglingConversations's rating:
Added Jan 05, 2024
Comment:
interesting life story but not much insight into the making of anime and shallow dialogue which was quite muffled as i was trying to follow along in Japanese. Limited value for general interest audiences.
DanglingConversations's rating:
Added Jan 05, 2024
Comment:
I read his first book and gave COOK a chance but writer has not improved over time. A few interesting twists but i skimmed through most of the extraneous detail which must be aimed to interest another audience who are not familiar with life in London. I wonder if he is aiming at an English audience in India?I read his first book and gave COOK a chance but writer has not improved over time. A few interesting twists but i skimmed through most of the extraneous detail which must be aimed to interest another audience who are not familiar with life in…
DanglingConversations's rating:
Added Jan 05, 2024
Comment:
Plot if fairly simple; crime happening in two countries catches up with perpetrator and UK immigrant waiter who was a former police inspector in India catches the bad guy. Many cultural references to India with which i am not familiar. Waiter is a bit too focused on his love life for my taste. There are better books out there.Plot if fairly simple; crime happening in two countries catches up with perpetrator and UK immigrant waiter who was a former police inspector in India catches the bad guy. Many cultural references to India with which i am not familiar. Waiter is a…
DanglingConversations's rating:
Added Dec 23, 2023
Comment:
Interesting history of Canadian Women's struggle to acquire the right to choose to complete a pregnancy or to choose abortion. The writing style, however, was stale. I skimmed through much of the superficial descriptions of the "blond hair flying in the wind" and drawn out scenes of finding baby booties. Great plot but written like an adolescent romance novel.Interesting history of Canadian Women's struggle to acquire the right to choose to complete a pregnancy or to choose abortion. The writing style, however, was stale. I skimmed through much of the superficial descriptions of the "blond hair flying in…
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