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miramichireader's reviews
676 reviews
Better Off Dead: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and the Canadian Armed Forces by Fred Doucette
4.0
certainly an eye-opening book about PTSD in the Canadian Armed Forces and how the CAF turns a blind eye to it. In straight-forward language, the author (himself a retired soldier and PTSD victim) relates not only his own story, but those of many others that he has come into contact with in his ten years as an adviser to fellow victims.
Escape!! by J.P. Rodriguez
3.0
Definitely an interesting read, if you like 'one culture living within another culture' type of theme. It started off slow for me, but it builds to a growing, depressing, yet hopeful climax. My advice: stick with it through the opening chapters and you will be rewarded.
Aftershock: The Halifax Explosion and the Persecution of Pilot Francis Mackey by Janet Maybee
4.0
A different perspective on the Halifax explosion, and one written to clear Pilot Mackey's besmirched name once and for all. I really enjoyed reading this book, since it looked at the Explosion from a different angle and it centers, not so much on the tragic incident itself, but on the major characters involved and the backroom politics in Ottawa that kept the cloud of guilt hanging over Mackey's head long after several courts had cleared him of any wrongdoing. Highly recommend based on the authoritative research done by Ms. Maybee and her logical presentation of the facts surrounding Pilot Francis Mackey and the Halifax Explosion.
A Gut Reaction: A True Story about a Mother's Fight to Save Her Son's Life and His Amazing Recovery from Crohn's Disease by Sky Curtis
1.0
I could not finish this book. It started off interesting enough, but a few chapters in I was tiring of the overuse/abuse of exclamation marks due to the histrionic writing style of Ms. Curtis. Her account of her going through a simple blood test did it for me. Her son is suffering immeasurably, yet she plays the drama queen over giving a few vials of her own blood. Her innumerable, lame scatological jokes & puns didn't help the reading process either.
Anyone truly interested in the practice of fecal infusions should just go to Dr. Thomas Borody's site: http://www.cdd.com.au/
Perhaps I was in a poor mood when I tried to read this book, but I'm sure the relevant info that this book contains could be distilled down to a few pages.
Anyone truly interested in the practice of fecal infusions should just go to Dr. Thomas Borody's site: http://www.cdd.com.au/
Perhaps I was in a poor mood when I tried to read this book, but I'm sure the relevant info that this book contains could be distilled down to a few pages.
A Short History of Fredericton by Dan Soucoup
3.0
A brief and breezy history of the Capital City, full of interesting facts. Useful to visitors and new residents of the city, as well as NB history buffs to fill in a few gaps here and there.
The Factory Voice by Jeanette Lynes
4.0
[b:The Factory Voice|6672971|The Factory Voice|Jeanette Lynes|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1266817470s/6672971.jpg|6868053] was on the longlist for the 2009 Giller's prize and it is easy to see why it was so popular. Set in Fort William (now part of Thunder Bay) during WWII in a factory that manufactures Mosquito bombers. It is almost entirely staffed by women right from Audrey the diminutive snack cart girl to Muriel MacGregor, the Chief Engineer. It is written in an easy to read, keep-the-pages-turning style with a certain "Corner Gas" style humour; the type that makes you smile or chuckle at different antics or occurrences that pop up or transpire over the length of the book.
There are 'red' spies (thought to be employed on the factory floor), escapees from a detainee camp near the factory, love interests, sabotage and a factory talent show to top it all off. All of it written without profanity or gratuitous sex scenes, staying true to the mores of the time.
The author has thoroughly researched factory life in Canada during the war, and her acknowledgments at the back of the book point to many sources, thus adding authenticity to the story.
A highly recommended 'fun' read, but it has its serious moments too, keeping the 'fluff' factor well in check.
There are 'red' spies (thought to be employed on the factory floor), escapees from a detainee camp near the factory, love interests, sabotage and a factory talent show to top it all off. All of it written without profanity or gratuitous sex scenes, staying true to the mores of the time.
The author has thoroughly researched factory life in Canada during the war, and her acknowledgments at the back of the book point to many sources, thus adding authenticity to the story.
A highly recommended 'fun' read, but it has its serious moments too, keeping the 'fluff' factor well in check.
The Ballad of Jacob Peck by Debra Komar
2.0
My combined review of Jacob Peck and The Bastard are here: http://miramichireader.ca/2016/01/jacob-peck-bastard-fort-stikine-debra-komar/
The Bastard of Fort Stikine: The Hudson's Bay Company and the Murder of John McLoughlin Jr. by Debra Komar
4.0
For fans of forensic anthropology, the Hudson's Bay Company and Canadian history, in that order.
My full review, combined with The Ballad of Jacob Peck, is here: http://miramichireader.ca/2016/01/jacob-peck-bastard-fort-stikine-debra-komar/
My full review, combined with The Ballad of Jacob Peck, is here: http://miramichireader.ca/2016/01/jacob-peck-bastard-fort-stikine-debra-komar/