Wooden Sword
Registered by gypsysmom of Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada on 5/3/2009
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
1 journaler for this copy...
The Children's Hospital Foundation had their annual book sale this past week. Not needing any books to add to my TBR list I stayed away but then yesterday I had to go to St. Vital Mall for another reason and I had to check at least a few tables. The first table I came to was Canadiana and I never got any further. I found 11 books and paid only $10 so it wasn't an expensive indulgence. This was one of the books.
This book is No. 97 in McLelland and Stewart's New Canadian Library.
This book is No. 97 in McLelland and Stewart's New Canadian Library.
Before picking up this book I had never heard of Edward McCourt. According to this article from Studies in Canadian Literature by Winnifred Bogaards, that is the usual experience. As she says "Edward McCourt is one of the most prolific and yet unrecognized of Canadian writers." Based on this book I say that is a shame.
Steven is a professor in English literature at an unnamed prairie university (which is most probably the University of Saskatchewan where McCourt taught). He fought in Northern Africa in World War II but he can hardly remember anything about that period. He repeatedly dreams about walking in the desert and having a grey cloud advance towards him which terrifies him. This dream has caused him to withdraw from his wife, Ruth, and have problems with his teaching and writing. This book examines his fight to regain his memory and his life.
I couldn't find any mention that McCourt fought in the war so that makes this book all the more amazing. His descriptions of the horror of war and the longlasting effects were completely believable. I felt like I was there as he remembers holding a pass with people dying all around him. Similarily the evocation of the nightmare that Steven has repeatedly was filled with menace and horror.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Canadian literature.
I am going to reserve this to release for the 2012 Canada Days release challenge.
Steven is a professor in English literature at an unnamed prairie university (which is most probably the University of Saskatchewan where McCourt taught). He fought in Northern Africa in World War II but he can hardly remember anything about that period. He repeatedly dreams about walking in the desert and having a grey cloud advance towards him which terrifies him. This dream has caused him to withdraw from his wife, Ruth, and have problems with his teaching and writing. This book examines his fight to regain his memory and his life.
I couldn't find any mention that McCourt fought in the war so that makes this book all the more amazing. His descriptions of the horror of war and the longlasting effects were completely believable. I felt like I was there as he remembers holding a pass with people dying all around him. Similarily the evocation of the nightmare that Steven has repeatedly was filled with menace and horror.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Canadian literature.
I am going to reserve this to release for the 2012 Canada Days release challenge.
Journal Entry 3 by gypsysmom at St. Norbert Farmers' Market in St. Norbert, Manitoba Canada on Saturday, June 23, 2012
Released 11 yrs ago (6/23/2012 UTC) at St. Norbert Farmers' Market in St. Norbert, Manitoba Canada
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
I left this book beside a pile of huge radishes. Everyone was stopping to take a look so I'm sure someone will notice the book. This book is released for the 2012 Canada Days release challenge. The aim of this challenge is to release books written by Canadians or about Canada into the wild. Hope the finder enjoys this classic Canadian novel. This release is also for the 2012 52 Towns in 52 Weeks release challenge.
