About After River: Hiring an American draft dodger to help out on the farm has long-lasting effects for a close-knit British Columbia family.

Fans of Crow Lake, especially those who liked the feel of the story, will most likely enjoy this book, too. I certainly did. Full review: After River by Donna Milner

About Sointula: A woman sets out in a stolen kayak to find her estranged son with an incompetent travel writer as her companion.

I don't know that I would want to spend time with any of the characters but I was cheering for each of them to find some kind of peace. Full review: Sointula by Bill Gaston

This book was my choice for British Columbia for the Canadian Book Challenge. Status: 10 books read, 7 reviewed

About Sign of the Cross: A young woman has been murdered and all of the evidence points to Father Brennan Burke.

An entertaining fast-paced mystery with a good cast of characters. I will definitely be reading everything in this series. Full review: Sign of the Cross by Anne Emery

This book was my pick for Nova Scotia for the Canadian Book Challenge.

Canadian Book Challenge update: 9 books read, 6 reviews done. That gap isn't getting any smaller, unfortunately.

So I have been doing more than just reading, although, judging by this blog, it doesn't seem like it.

Again to keep him happy, here's J's latest news:

He didn't win the spelling bee. Some of the words that were marked wrong were, in fact, right, just not clearly printed.

He went to a birthday party last Saturday for a friend who lives in a different town. This involved me GETTING UP EARLY ON A SATURDAY to drive him there. I think he appreciated that but I'm not sure.

Like last year, he will be competing at the Kiwanis Festival of the Performing Arts at the end of the month.

Enough about the kid already.

An old friend dropped by unexpectedly a couple of weeks ago. We haven't seen him in years (since he got married, pretty much) and I'm still not sure how he knew we lived here. Ice wasn't home but I had an entertaining visit with him anyway. Although it's killing me that I can't figure out the name of the guy he brought along. This guy knew me and asked about all of Ice's siblings and I'm pretty sure I'm going to feel like a complete idiot when I finally figure out his identity.

My parents are coming home from Florida at the end of the month. I haven't seen them since early November so I'm looking forward to that.

The girls are doing another murder mystery dinner at their church at the beginning of May.

We're trying to make plans for Ice's vacation this summer. We'd like to rent a cottage if we can find one that won't break the bank (ha!). If that doesn't work out, we'll probably do day trips to various places. That won't be quite the same though.

About The Other Side of the Bridge: Arthur Dunn and Ian Christopherson live in a small community in Northern Ontario and their lives intertwine when Ian asks for a job on Arthur's farm.

Even better than Crow Lake and I wasn't sure that was possible. Full review: The Other Side of the Bridge by Mary Lawson

About Icefields: On a climbing expedition in 1898, Dr. Ned Byrne slipped into a crevasse in the Arcturus Glacier. What he saw while he waited for rescue would haunt him for the next 25 years.

Quiet, understated, well-written, and different. I'm glad I read it. Full review: Icefields by Thomas Wharton.

This book was my pick for Alberta for the Canadian book challenge.

Canadian book challenge update: 8 books read, 5 reviews done

On an unrelated and annoying note: Songs were being scrobbled to my Last.fm account that I did not listen to. So now I've got a skinhead band in my weekly top artists. :-(

Someone in my house has been complaining about my lack of posts about certain events. So here goes....

J'S BIRTHDAY

J turned 11 this year (or is it 9? I always forget). He had a couple of friends here for a sleepover and they made lots of noise and stayed up too late and messed up the living room. Oh, and he got some cool presents too.

J'S SPELLING BEE

J is in a spelling bee this weekend, competing against other kids from area schools. K did this a couple of years ago so she's been quizzing him on words like "colonel" and "whimsical" and "xenon". A typical conversation in our house these days might go like this:

K: Do you want cream cheese on your bagel, Mom?
R: No, I think I'll have cheddar.
J: Cheddar! C-H-E-D-D-E-R!
R: A-R
J: Darn!

J IN THE TALENT SHOW

On Saturday night, J and his father will be performing in a talent show at their church. I think it's supposed to be for all members of the congregation but, from what I hear, it's sounding more like "The Ice's Family Talent Show". J will be performing Für Elise on the piano. Ice will be singing with his siblings.

Ok, I think that's it. Happy now, kiddo?

Against the Grain* by Carolyn Hay
June 18 - August 16

"After a lifetime of hard work, Henry Jamieson has built himself an empire of Manitoba grain. But who will take the reins of the family business if his son David doesn’t wake up and seize the opportunity?"

Harvest by Ken Cameron
June 25 - August 16

Retired farmers rent their house to "a nice young man" who disappears, leaving behind a less-than-legal crop. Based on a true story.

Courting Johanna* by Marcia Johnson
July 23 - September 6

Based on the story, "Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage", by Alice Munro.

Innocence Lost* by Beverley Cooper
July 30 - September 6

"In Clinton, Ontario, on June 12, 1959, [fourteen-year-old] Steven Truscott was arrested for the murder of Lynne Harper, a twelve-year-old child." This is on my Absolutely Must See list, for obvious reasons.

And we can't forget the Young Company, September 9-13 in the Garage Studio. Also on my Absolutely Must See list.

* world premiere