Strawberry Fields: Marina Lewycka

The Basics: Strawberry Fields, Marina Lewycka, 2007, 291 pages, hard cover

How I found it: I read enjoyed Lewycka's previous novel, A Short History of Tractors in Ukranian, so I put myself on the waiting list at the library for this one.

What's it about?: This novel is about a group of strawberry pickers in England. They are migrant workers from Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia who are brought in illegally to pick strawberries. The book centres around their lives in the two decrepit trailers they live in near the fields, and the 'adventures' they have after they leave the strawberry fields. The book begins with the narrative shifting between the nine workers and their dog, but by the end of the book, it has come to focus on the two Ukranians, Irina and Andriy. It is a story about being in a strange land where you don't understand what is going on, it is about hardship and about friendship and about 'adventure'. Apparently, it is also supposed to be funny.

Did I like it?: I HATED this book. I have read books that are much worse than this one, but I feel I must give a much harsher critique of the this book because I really enjoyed Lewycka's work in the past, the book has recieved critical acclaim, and she was previously nominated for the Booker. The idea of this book is a good one, but it was so poorly executed I just couldn't believe it. The idea of telling a story from such a wide array of perspectives is interesting, but it obviously was too much work since Lewycka had to keep inventing reasons for some of the characters to leave so that she could focus on less of them. The plot of the book was also terrible. I have watched some nighttime soaps that had better thought out plots. Lewycka seems to think that sending bumbling immigrants careering across England in search of some destination at random would be a recipe for plot success. Perhaps this book is meant to be character-driven and then the plot doesn't matter so much. Except that there is so much filler going on that we don't get to focus on the characters that much, and the flash-back scenes to Andriy and Irina's pasts just seem contrived. The book is also supposed to be funny. Overall, I found it quite sad and depressing and felt sorry for the characters. I think I was supposed to laugh at them, since there wasn't anything to laugh with them about. I didn't feel like laughing at them though, since they were so sad and so stereotyped. All in all, I hated reading this book and couldn't wait for it to be over. (However, I will say that the only redeeming part was that sometimes the dog's narrative was funny when it wasn't completely annoying.)

Will you like it?: This one is not recommended. According to some reviews I've read, apparently British people find this book funny, since they find immigrant stereotypes, particularly the bumbling type, to be hilarious. If you find that hilarious, then by all means read this book. Otherwise, stay well away and pick up Lewycka's other book, also about Ukranian immigrants instead. It is genuinely funny and well written, two qualities this book definitely lacks.

But don't take my word for it: The usual and reader reviews from Amazon, a review from Toronto's Now Magazine, one that says what I was thinking, only in a nicer tone, from the New York Times, another one from the LA Times, and one from the UK's The Guardian (where the book was published as Two Caravans).

The End of East - Jen Sookfong Lee

The Basics: The End of East, Jen Sookfong Lee, 2007, 245 pages, hardcover

How I found it: I remembered reading an interview with Lee in the Tyee this summer, and then picked up her book during some random browsing at Chapters.

What's it about?: The narrator is university-aged Samantha (Sammy) Chan who flees her troubled personal life in Montreal to return home to care for her aging mother after her old sister moves out. The story isn't really that much about Sammy though - it is more about her memories of her parents and grandparents. Sammy's portions of the story are told in first person, but much of the book is focuses on Sammy's parents and grandparents and their early days in Canada after arriving from China. These portions are told in the third person. In general, the plot revolves around the struggles of three generations of Chans: the struggles to make a life in Canada, to have positive relationships with their family members, and to have positive relationships with themselves. All of the Chans say that they feel that Vancouver's Chinatown is a part of them, so much so that they could walk its streets blindfolded after not having visited in years. Similarly, Vancouver's Chinatown is a part of this book - Lee has tried to capture the essence of Chinatown in a novel.

Did I like it?: I really enjoyed this book since Lee is an amazing writer. This is her first novel, and it is a great debut. Previously, Lee was known as a celebrated poet, and it shows in her writing. Her words are carefully chosen, which makes the story flow so well, and really brings it to life for the reader. Lee gives the book an undertone of melancholy and of things left unsaid, which is both beautiful and depressing. The amount of emotion that she is able to coax out of seemingly stoic characters is fabulous. The only thing that bothered me a bit about the book is that we didn't learn enough about Sammy and her journey. Perhaps Lee will have to write several other companion books as Wayson Choy did to tell the rest of the story of this Vancouver Chinatown family.

Will you like it?: This is a great book - good story, excellent writing. It really sucks you in and I was upset when it was over. If you like quality fiction, you'll like this book. Its a great one for bookclubs as well.

But don't take my word for it: Glowing editorial and reader reviews from Amazon, a review from Vancouver alternative weekly The Georgia Straight, one from the blog Lotus Reads, another from January Magazine, and a collection of review links from Vancouver's Toddish McWong of Gung Haggis Fat Choy fame.

Sweetness in the Belly - Camilla Gibb

The Basics: Sweetness in the Belly, Camilla Gibb, 2005, 415 pages, paperback, shortlisted for the Giller, winner of Ontario's Prix Trillim Book Award.

How I found it: Random browsing at Chapters.

What's it about?: The life story of Lilly, a white woman who grew up as a Muslim in Morocco and Ethiopia. The story is told in bits and pieces, jumping from her present as an immigrant to the U.K., back to her early days in Harar.

Did I like it?: I loved this book. Lilly is such a strong character, even when she feels she is weak. Her story was very compelling and unlike any I had read before. Camilla Gibb actually did at Ph.D. in social anthropology at Oxford with field work in Ethiopia, so her book is meticulous well-research and to me seems exceptionally authentic. Gibb writes very well and explains the cultural aspects of the book very well without detracting from the narrative. The love stories were also especially poignant.

Will you like it?: This is a great book as it is well written, has a great strong female protagonist and a great plot. There is nothing to dislike about this book. As with many that I read, it is more of a woman's book, but it is far from chick-lit. A good choice for book clubs.

But don't take my word for it: The usual stuff and reader reviews from amazon.ca, a review from Hour.ca, one from curledup.com, another from The Guardian, and a collection of reviews from Camilla Gibbs' website.

Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures - Vincent Lam

The Basics: Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures, Vincent Lam, 2005, 353 pages, paperback, winner of the Giller prize.

How I found it: My mom read it for her book club and when I arrived to stay with her I found it waiting on my bedside table.

What's it about?: This is a collection of short stories about becoming and being a doctor. It is also about relationships evolving over time, coming of age, and related themes. Lam also tackles the stereotyped issue of Asian immigrant parents and their expectations for their children and the SARS epidemic in Toronto.

Did I like it?: Despite the gross-out factor (for me) of all the medical stuff, I really liked this book. The short stories all involve the same set of characters, and over time, I came to identify with most of them. Since all of the stories were interrelated, the book did read a bit like a novel, and as a result, I was eager to see what happened to each of the characters so I read it quite fast.

Will you like it?: This book has had a lot of critical acclaim, and rightly so. It is well written, has compelling stories and characters, and provides insight into something most of us don't know too much about - what it is really like to be a doctor. I was surprised with how much I liked it, as I had thought it wouldn't be my 'thing'.

But don't take my word for it: The usual collection of professional reviews and reader reviews from Amazon, one from Toronto's NOW Magazine, a review from the online January Magazine, one from the blog The Library Ladder, and the author's official website.

China Dog and Other Tales from a Chinese Laundry - Judy Fong Bates

The Basics: China Dog and Other Tales from a Chinese Laundry, Judy Fong Bates, 1997, 148 pages, hard cover

How I found it: After I read Midnight at the Dragon Cafe, I decided to see what else Fong Bates had written.

What's it about?: A collection of short stories about Chinese immigrant families in small Ontario towns. Each story invovles a set of sometime interrelated characters and family members dealing with a crisis or momentous occasion. One of the main themes is being the only Canadian born in a group of more traditional Chinese.

Did I like it?: The stories in this collection are good but not great. If you have read Midnight at the Dragon Cafe, many of the themes and even settings will be familiar. This made me feel that I had already read some of these stories; it made me feel that Fong Bates was rehashing the same old same old. Overall though, the stories were pleasant to read and fairly well crafted.

Will you like it?: This isn't a book I would advise anyone to rush out to pick up. It is pleasant enough, but there isn't really any particular reason to read it. If you are really into Chinese Immigrant stories, I suggest Wayson Choy and Denise Chong before this book.

But don't take my word for it: The usual from Amazon, a review from someone at SFU, and one from Desijournal.com are all that is available.

A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian - Marina Lewycka

The Basics: A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, Marina Lewycka, 2005, 294 pages, paper back, longlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2005.

How I Found it: Last time I was at Chapters I saw this book and nearly bought it... this time I did buy it. This is a case of judging a book by its cover.

What's it about?: A Ukrainian immigrant family in a small town in the UK deal with their father's impending remarriage to a women from the "motherland". Sisters Vera and Nadia have been feuding since their mother's death, but they have to band together to save their father. This is a story of a family rediscovering their love for each other, and it's often humorous. The eccentric patriarch, a former engineer, is writing a book, A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, that is the vehicle for connecting their old lives in the Ukraine with their new lives in England.

Did I like it?: I really like this book. It was cutely funny, but also sad at times. I read it quite fast since the book is written in an effortless way. My only quibble with the book would be that some of the characters (the ones we aren't supposed to like) were very one dimensional and it wasn't clear what their motivation was. But I suppose that is the beauty of the story.

Will you like it?: I think so. This is a cute little book and a great story about a family. Plus, it is about the immigrant experience and ties the old world to the new, which is always good. The characters are quite funny at times, and the plot unfolds well. Overall, a good fast read with lots of heart, if a bit pulpy at times.

But don't take my word for it: The usual industry reviews from Amazon, a couple of glowing reader reviews, one from the London Times, a not so glowing review from the Guardian, one from the San Fransisco Chronicle, and a fairly negative review from Alan in Belfast.

Treading Water - Anne DeGrace

The Basics: Treading Water, Anne DeGrace, 2005, 302 pages, paperback. This is the author's first novel.

How I found it: Greg gave me this book for Christmas. He said he picked it because it was written by a Canadian female author so he knew I would like it. Little did he know that was filled with Mennonites!

What's it about?: This novel is about a small town in the mountains of BC, only accessible by water. The book traces the life of the town, and the town becomes a character in of itself, helped along by the various people who live there through the years. The book is told in a series of vignettes, each corresponding with a year. We proceed chronologically through these vignettes, each told by a different character, to watch the town come of age, mature, and subside into old age and decline.

Did I like it?: I loved this book. It was beautifully written and by the end I wanted to visit the town, even though it is fictional. The town took on a life of its own for me. Even though the characters who lived there through the generations had lives of their own, which were interesting, the way the townspeople interacted and shaped the town was much more compelling. The book begins in 1904 and ends in 1967; the lifetime of a person is the lifetime of the town.

Will you like it?: This is a great book, and a good one for book clubs. I even cried at the end! DeGrace is a talented writer and I look forward to seeing more of her work. In the meantime, go out and read this book. I really enjoyed reading it and you probably will too.

But don't take my word for it: The usual literary reviews and reader reviews from Amazon.ca, info about the book from BC Book World, and a link to a CBC radio interview with the author (scroll down) were all I could find.

Middlesex - Jeffrey Eugenides

The Basics: Middlesex, Jeffrey Eugenides, 2002, 529 pages, paperback, winner of the of Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 2003.

How I found it: My youngest sister gave it to my for Christmas. Apparently she quite liked it.

What's it about?: A story of three generations of a Greek immigrant family in the American Mid-West, the youngest member of which happens to be a hermaphrodite (hence the title). Cal (or Callie) the narrator lets the viewer in on his secret on the very first page, but we have to wait until about 2/3 of the way in to find out the details of how he discovered he was a hermaphrodite and what that has meant for his life. Cal tells the story as if he is speaking to the reader in his free time. He takes us through the lives of his grandparents and his parents, and finally his own life up to the present.

Did I like it?: I couldn't put this one down. Eugenides' style of writing made me believe that I was reading an autobiography, not a work of fiction. Even if the author were to have left out Cal's portion of the story, the section on his grandparent's flight from Greece to America and their struggle to establish themselves in their new country would be a good book all by itself. The only thing I didn't like about this book was that it is a little long. At over 500 pages, I felt it would have been better off as two books, one a sequel (or a prequel) to the other.

Would you like it?: I highly recommend this book. It's a great story about an immigrant family and their family dynamic. In addition, this is also a coming of age novel (although the person coming of age happens to be a hermaphrodite. I didn't know anything at all about intersexed people, so this book was rather educational in that regard.

But don't take my word for it: A review from Salon.com, one from CNN's archives, the usual collection of reviews from Amazon.ca, some reader reviews, a review from New York Magazine, and finally one from The Guardian.

Natasha and Other Stories - David Bezmozgis

The Basics: Natasha and Other Stories, David Bezmozgis, 2004, 147 pages, hard cover.

How I found it: This is another Canada Reads book. This one is being defended by Steven Page (of the Barenaked Ladies).

What's it about?: This is a collection of semi-autobiographical short stories about the same family told in a sequential manner so that it resembles a fragmented novel. The family here is a Jewish Russian family that immigrates to Toronto. The stories are told by the family's only son, Mark and they trace his life from the time they arrive in Canada to his early adulthood. In this sense it is also a coming of age book.

Did I like it?: I am a sucker for stories about immigrant children. There is something that is just so quintessentially Canadian about them. Therefore I was bound to like this book for that reason alone. That is not the only reason to like it, however: it is exceptionally well written, it takes you inside the unique culture of Russian Jews, and it seems very genuine. As I read it I really began to believe that the characters were real and that this was a memoir, not a work of fiction.

Will you like it?: So far this is my favourite of the Canada Reads books (though I have yet to read two of them). Bezmozgis has been hailed as the next big thing by a lot of big literary magazines and I believe it. He is a great writer and I flew through this book in under 48 hours. His characters and his prose really sucked me in.

But don't take my word for it: A collection of editorial reviews from Amazon.ca, a couple glowing reader reviews, a more critical review from Pop Matters, and one from Small Spiral Notebook (an alternative literary journal).

A Complicated Kindness - Miriam Toews

The Basics: A Complicated Kindness, Miriam Toews, 2004, 246 pages, paperback, winner of the Governor General's Award for Fiction, nominated for the Giller Prize, champion of the CBC's Canada Reads 2006.

How I found it: Despite all the acclaim this book has received, I don't remember hearing about it. I picked it up in our local used bookstore because it had the GG nomination sticker on it.

What's it about?: A teenage girl growing up in a small Manitoba farming community that is dominated by the ultra-conservative Mennonite church. Like most of the Canadian novels I have read recently, this one also involves a very troubled family. The protagonist, Nomi, is caught between the old ways of community and the pull of the modern world. Toews is said to have based the book upon her own coming of age in 1970s Steinbach, Manitoba (which I visited last summer and went to the Mennonite Heritage Village).

Did I like it?: As a novel, I like the book. It was well written in an interesting and youthful style and I found myself relating to Nomi, despite her immaturity. However, I did have a few problems with the book. It depicts a very conservative, regimented and fundamentalist society of Mennonites who participate in shunnings and excommunications. I had a hard time reconciling this portrayal with the Mennonites that I know who are some the best, most caring and selfless people. They are much more moderate and modern than what is depicted in Toews' novel, but I suppose times have changed. I would be interested to see a moderate Mennonite review this book.

Will you like it?: It is a difficult and heart-wrenching book to read, but that is what makes it good. It's critical recognition is well-deserved. I liked it, and I think you will too, but I will offer one disclaimer: it was both a Heather's pick (Chapters) and picked by O, Oprah's magazine. I generally am not a fan of those types of books, but I did like this one even though I kept waiting for the revelation (that thankfully never came) that one of the characters had been molested. It's that kind of Color Purple/Wally Lamb/book club-style book.

But don't take my word for it: Readers on Amazon.ca seem to think it's boring, critics love it, a reviewer on popmatters.com seems to like it.

Midnight at the Dragon Cafe - Judy Fong Bates

The Basics: Midnight at the Dragon Cafe, Judy Fong Bates, 2004, 315 pages, hard cover

How I Found it: I really don't remember. I probably stumbled across the title while randomly browsing the Halifax library site or Amazon.ca.

What's it about?: A story of an immigrant child growing up trapped between Canadian society and her Chinese heritage. Like the child protagonists in Wayson Choy's The Jade Peony and Denise Chong's The Concubine's Children (both of which are excellent and recommended) the protagonist here, little Su-Jen/Annie, carries around a lot of family secrets for such a small child. Unlike those novels, however, Bates' book is set in a small town in rural Ontario, not in the big bustling Chinatowns of Vancouver or Toronto.

Did I like it?: Well, it made me cry a little bit, which is usually a good sign, and I was upset when it was over as I wanted to read more, so I'd say I liked it a lot. Little Su-Jen/Annie is a very compelling character and her struggle to belong in white society while meeting the expectations of her Chinese parents is very touching. I had never heard of Judy Fong Bates before this, but I now I will seek out her short story collection, China Dog and Other Stories, since I really enjoyed her writing style.

Will you like it?: It's a bit of a woman's book, as much as I hate that distinction. Women will love the story... it is book club worthy. It is a good fast read with lots of heart. Every Canadian should read this book, or something like it to understand the immigrant experience first hand since the story could be re-told using immigrants of a variety of cultural backgrounds.

But don't take my word for it: Editorial and real people reviews.