Thriller divides groun

B® Felicia’s Journey by
William Trevor, Published
1995. Penguin Books
Whitbread Literary
Awards 1994 — novel and
book of the year

In our discussion of
Felicia’s Journey several
members of the bookclub
really distiked this book —
some thought it was OK
and probably only one or two liked it. We did have a pretty
lively conversation and I felt I was one of the only members
who really enjoyed this book and kept trying to convince the
others of its merits.

William Trevor is a writer who was born in Ireland in
1928. He has written a number of novels, short-stories, plays
and autobiographical essays. In fact he has won the Whitbread

Award for four novels, one of
them being Felisia’s Journey.
Felicia’s Journey also won the
Sunday Express Book of the

~ Year. In 1992 he received the
Sunday Times Award for
Literary Excellence.

Felicia’s Journey is what 1
would call a literary thriller. It
is not a classic whodunnit as
you already know who the
villain is. But it is slow and
suspenseful, I found my self
turning ahead the pages to
find out what was going to
happen. The story is largely

about swo characters, Felicia
; and Mr. Hilditch. Felicia is
seventeen, naive and pregnant, she leaves home in Ireland to
find her lover Johany, whe is apparently living in England.
. Well, we all know that she won't find Johnny but Felicia does-
at and she ends u being beftiended by Mr. Y plilditch. I really
: enjoyed the slow discovery of Mr. Hilditch’s evil character, in
fact I found him more interesting than Felicia. I won't tell you
“more of the story because it really is suspenseful and you
shouldn’t know the ending before reading it.
:: = Mostly, our bookclub did not enjoy this book. The com-
ments were that it was too slow, depressing, not very involving
and that the writing wasn’t memorable. They did like the end-
ing and felt the descriptions of the homeless and how they
coped interesting. The ending of the book led us to a discus-
sion on the homeless and this was very interesting.
Would I recommend this $ book — — yes! But if you asked

5

another member of the group
you'd be sure to get a differ-
ent response.

Our next read is Small
Change by Canadian author,
Elizabeth Hay. Small Change
was written in 1997 and is a
collection of short stories
about friendship. It was
shortlisted for the Governor
General’s Award, the Trillium
Prize and the Rogers
Communications Writers
Trust Prize for Canadian
Fiction. And as a special
event, Elizabeth Hay will be
reading from her new novel,
A Student of Weather at 32
Books, on Monday, May 1 at
7:30 p.m. I would encourage
all bookciubs to come and
hear one of Canada’s great
writers read this evocative and
sensuous new novel.

When ie act,
when to watch

' The Rules of Engagement

by Catherine Bush,
HarperFlamingo Canada,
300 pages, $29

Peace and War. Love and Hate. To have one, how much of
the other do you have to risk. For Arcadia Hearne, drawn to
two men, her safe academic world is torn apart when her two
lovers face off against cach other. Is it love of her or the thrill
of violence that sets off the chain events that changes all of.
their lives.

In London ten years fater, Arcadia, now a researcher of
modern warfare, is Pp ulled from the sidelines and onto the

laying field, when her sister asks a favour. By aiding a refugee,
her emotional detachment is challenged and the house she
has constructed away from her Toronto home is gradually
demolished.

Telling both the story of her former love triangle and her
new attachment to aman who carries his own secrets, the
book weaves it’s tale, flowing easily from past to present.
Throughout the story, Bush challenges us with concepts of

war and responsibility, letting us decide where the line is,
choosing wi en to act and when to watch.

a FOSTERS :

Friday, April 28, 2000 — North Shore Hews - 21

FAMILY psychologist Dr. Peter ffarshall gave a par-
enting seminar at 32 Books on April 15. A revised .....
edition of his popular book Now | Know Why Tigers °
Eat Their Young (Surviving a New Generation of -
Teenagers) has just been published by Whitecap os
Books in softcover ($16.95). .

Compelling on several levels, The Rules of . Engagement: will |
pull you deeper into its web of choices, forcing you to exam-

‘ine questions of morality and obligation, f fears and the risks

they demand. . oe
_ ~ Terry Peters:

32 Books hosts gardening author.

Steve Whysall, author of ‘The Blooming Great ‘Gardening.
Book and 100 Best Plants for the Coastal .Garden will be :
offering a garden demo and signing his new book at 32:
Books Co., 140. E. 14th St. North Vancouver, Saturday,”
April 29-at 1 pa m.

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