I’m not a great fan of mysteries but for my long commute I need something that will keep my attention.  Long prose set my mind to wondering so I thought I’d try the latest Chief Inspector Armand Gamache mystery by Louise Penny.  I really enjoyed this book!  I’m not sure if I made a mistake by diving into the most recent book in the series, but the story went along just fine and I didn’t feel hindered by not knowing some of the back story (although I will go back and read more in the series).  Gamache and his group of comrades are instantly likable. The story line was exciting and never predictable.  The narrator of the audiobook is someone that I recognize from other books and he does a wonderful job.  I’m glad I took a chance on a mystery; it made me remember the Martha Grimes, Richard Jury mysteries I enjoyed several years ago!  Highly recommended!

Reviewed by Kris Chin

Recently I listened to this audio book I downloaded from Overdrive which I truly picked because of the cover. I had no idea that it was a novel about the life of Robert Louis Stevenson and that’s a good thing, because I’m not sure I would have chosen it!  While I have enjoyed the works of  Mr. Stevenson, he’s just not a person that I have ever been particularly interested in learning about.  Well, all that has changed!  This novel gives a very close and personal account of Stevenson’s life.  He was a gentle and loving person who endured a lifelong illness with optimism and determination.  The novel centers around his marriage to a head strong divorced American woman who was every much his equal in strength and intellect.  Their life together held many adventures, heartache and loss but Stevenson’s spirit and their deep love for each other, saw them through.

Although this is a novel, I came to realize as I did some research, that the account of his life is very close to the truth.  I highly recommend this novel for anyone who is interested in great historical and/or literary figures.

The story of this marriage is told in turns by the main characters, Lotto and Mathilde. Lotto is a man-child, self-obsessed and reliant on Mathilde for someone who understands and grounds him. He truly loves her but is even somewhat selfish in his love.
Mathilde is the adult in the relationship, taking care of the mundane matters of life so that Lotto can pursue a fruitless career as an actor and then as a successful playwright. She loves and supports him in a way that appears to be completely selfless.
Lotto’s story is told first and just as you believe you understand each character, then it is Mathilde’s turn;  secrets and motives are revealed and everything you thought you knew is turned upside down.

Reviewed by Kris 

A Doll’s House is a three act play written by Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906), a Norwegian writer. The play was first published in early December of 1879 and premiered on the 21st of that month. The piece of literature criticises the 19th century marriage norms and displays that behind every seemingly happy household, conflicts are present. This play showcases Nora Helmer’s struggle for independence and self-discovery in a world dominated by men. In the beginning of the play the Helmer household seems perfect in every way, without a single whiff of maliciousness or dissatisfaction present. As the play progresses however, significant events start to unfold and the facade of the Helmers is cracked, thus revealing that their “perfect” household was after all just A Doll’s House and Nora is forced to take dramatic action. I recommend this amazing piece of literature to every fan of “realism” and “naturalism.”

Reviewed by teen volunteer, Eri