For those not familiar with what Canada Reads is all about, it’s a moderated debate competition where panelists advocate a Canadian Literature (CanLit) they think Canada should read given a specific theme.
The theme for 2016 focuses on starting over — for migrants, immigrants and others whom are forced or choose to make transformative changes in their lives. (Paraphrased from CBC.)
Book Title Six of Crows (Six of Crows #01)
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Number of pages: 465
Synopsis:
Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone… Kaz’s crew are the only ones who might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.
(re: Goodreads @ Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo)
– Come for the heist, stay for the characters. Five alternating POVs with witty banter, slow burn romance, and plenty of dissonance
– Two primary settings: a gritty merchant port with gangs, bars and speakeasies + a prison atop a frozen landscape; incorporates the high fantasy of the Grishaverse
– Voices are distinct and everyone has their own motivations (no pawns for pawns sake)
– There are Easter eggs for those who’ve read The Grisha trilogy. The learning curve isn’t steep for those who haven’t read her other series
INFINTELY BETTER THAN THE GRISHA TRILOGY.
Book Title This Is Where It Ends
Author: Marieke Nijkamp
Number of pages: 292
Synopsis:
10:00 a.m.: The principal of Opportunity, Alabama’s high school finishes her speech, welcoming the entire student body to a new semester and encouraging them to excel and achieve.
10:02 a.m.: The students get up to leave the auditorium for their next class.
10:03 a.m.: The auditorium doors won’t open.
10:05 a.m.: Someone starts shooting.
Told over the span of 54 harrowing minutes from four different perspectives, terror reigns as one student’s calculated revenge turns into the ultimate game of survival.
(re: Goodreads @ This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp)
– A timely novel giving life to social circles shared by school shooters. However, the shooter isn’t given a voice
– Multi POV narrative; uses twitter, blog posts, flashblacks
– Set in Alabama and raises questions per the demographics and the representation of diverse inclusion of the physically disabled, LGBTQIA+, cultural (Spanish, Middle Eastern), mentally ill
– Some scenes overdramatized with cinematic flair
– Lacking motivation for the shooter and doesn’t really provide solid reasons as to why
This book join the ranks of most underwhelming titles I’ve read in 2015 (release is in 2016). Cover’s great, though.
Full disclosure: I received an e-ARC of This Is Where It Ends from Netgalley. I extend thanks to SourceBooks Fire for providing me the opportunity to review this book.
Continue reading [Review] This Is Where It Ends — Marieke Nijkamp
![[Review] Six Of Crows — Leigh Bardugo](https://thoughtsandafterthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/six-of-crows-featimg-1038x576.png?w=672&h=372&crop=1)
![[Review] This Is Where It Ends — Marieke Nijkamp](https://thoughtsandafterthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/this-is-where-it-ends-nijkamp-featimg-1038x576.jpg?w=672&h=372&crop=1)
thoughts and afterthoughts. 