September 23, 2016
September 16, 2016
Welcome to a new year of Bookends!
Hey Bookenders!
Hope you all had a great (first) week! My name is Taneeta, and I’ll be your Director for the 2016-2017 year. I’m so excited to kick off another year of reading, discussing, and socializing with all of you!
Our first meeting of the year will be for introductions (and a little club business), so new and returning members can get acquainted. Feel free to bring your friends! It’ll be Friday, September 30.
I'm still in the process of a booking a room (and a time), mostly because it's difficult to find one that allows food. If you have any recommendations, I'd really appreciate it! I'll send out an email later on this month with the official details, but I wanted to kick off the year first!
If you can't make it to the meeting, I'll be sending out a follow-up email to summarize everything we talk about. All other meetings of the year will be decided democratically, through polls.
If you have any comments or concerns about accessibility before/during/after meetings, please let me know, whether in person or by email. It is important to me that you feel comfortable and welcomed at our meetings.
I’d also love to get your ideas about how to make this year of Bookends our best yet, so talk to me at the meeting or shoot me an email to get it all started! I’d particularly like your feedback on:
- ideas for social events (free/inexpensive ones preferred)
- whether you prefer afternoon or evening meetings, and on which days
- themes of the month!
See you at the meeting! I’m looking forward to meeting all of you.
Best,
Taneeta Doma
Director, Bookends
January 31, 2016
~ February's Book of the Month ~
Hello Bookenders!
The votes are in and a date has been set. The book of the month is............
The Incarnations by Susan Barker!
As the letters continue to appear seemingly out of thin air, Wang becomes convinced that someone is watching him—someone who claims to have known him for over one thousand years. And with each letter, Wang feels the watcher growing closer and closer…"
The votes are in and a date has been set. The book of the month is............
The Incarnations by Susan Barker!
"Who are you? you must be wondering. I am your soulmate, your old friend, and I have come back to this city of sixteen million in search of you.So begins the first letter that falls into Wang’s lap as he flips down the visor in his taxi. The letters that follow are filled with the stories of Wang’s previous lives—from escaping a marriage to a spirit bride, to being a slave on the run from Genghis Khan, to living as a fisherman during the Opium Wars, and being a teenager on the Red Guard during the cultural revolution—bound to his mysterious “soulmate,” spanning one thousand years of betrayal and intrigue.
As the letters continue to appear seemingly out of thin air, Wang becomes convinced that someone is watching him—someone who claims to have known him for over one thousand years. And with each letter, Wang feels the watcher growing closer and closer…"
We will be reading The Incarnations and meeting later in the month to discuss the book. Below is the meeting date and time, location will be set out soon so keep an eye out. Good luck with school, assignments and tests and see you all soon!
Meeting Info
Date: Thursday, March 24th, 2016
Time: 5:30 - 6:00 pm
Location: Marvin Gerstein Room (main floor through the reading room doors)
Address -
Gerstein Science Information Centre
Sigmund Samuel Library Building
9 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A5
Address -
Gerstein Science Information Centre
Sigmund Samuel Library Building
9 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A5
Happy Reading,
Thurga Ganeshamoorthy
Director, Bookends
University of Toronto
January 17, 2016
~ February Meeting and Book Nominations ~
Hello Bookenders!
Thank you for those of you that provided nominations for voting. Below you will find the books that have been chosen and the link to where you can go and vote. More information regarding the meeting date, time and location will be coming your way soon. Don't forget to vote for the book of February 2016. See you all soon!
Nominations
1. House of Echoes by Brendan Duffy
"In this enthralling and atmospheric thriller, one young family’s dream of a better life is about to become a nightmare.
Ben and Caroline Tierney and their two young boys are hoping to start over. Ben has hit a dead end with his new novel, Caroline has lost her banking job, and eight-year-old Charlie is being bullied at his Manhattan school.
When Ben inherits land in the village of Swannhaven, in a remote corner of upstate New York, the Tierneys believe it’s just the break they need, and they leave behind all they know to restore a sprawling estate. But as Ben uncovers Swannhaven’s chilling secrets and Charlie ventures deeper into the surrounding forest, strange things begin to happen. The Tierneys realize that their new home isn’t the fresh start they needed . . . and that the village’s haunting saga is far from over.
House of Echoes is a novel that shows how sometimes the ties that bind us are the only things that can keep us whole."
2. The Thing About Great White Sharks and other stories by Rebecca Adams Wright
" In this collection?s richly imagined title story, our brutal and resourceful protagonist is determined to protect her family from a murderous, shark-ridden world?at any cost. Elsewhere, an old woman uncovers a sinister plot while looking after a friend?s plants (?Orchids?), and a girl in the war-torn countryside befriends an unlikely creature (?Keeper of the Glass?). In ?Barnstormers,? a futuristic flying circus tries to forestall bankruptcy with one last memorable show. At the heart of ?Sheila? is the terrible choice a retired judge must make when faced with the destruction of his beloved robotic dog, and ?Yuri, in a Blue Dress? follows one of the last survivors of an alien invasion as she seeks help. Extending from World War II to the far future, these fifteen stories offer a gorgeously observed perspective on our desire for connection and what it means to have compassion?for ourselves, for one another, for our past?and for whatever lies beyond."
3. Unwind by Neal Shusterman
" In America after the Second Civil War, the Pro-Choice and Pro-Life armies came to an agreement: The Bill of Life states that human life may not be touched from the moment of conception until a child reaches the age of thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, a parent may choose to retroactively get rid of a child through a process called "unwinding." Unwinding ensures that the child's life doesn’t “technically” end by transplanting all the organs in the child's body to various recipients. Now a common and accepted practice in society, troublesome or unwanted teens are able to easily be unwound.
With breathtaking suspense, this book follows three teens who all become runaway Unwinds: Connor, a rebel whose parents have ordered his unwinding; Risa, a ward of the state who is to be unwound due to cost-cutting; and Lev, his parents’ tenth child whose unwinding has been planned since birth as a religious tithing. As their paths intersect and lives hang in the balance, Shusterman examines complex moral issues that will keep readers turning the pages until the very end."
4. The Incarnations by Susan Barker
"Who are you? you must be wondering. I am your soulmate, your old friend, and I have come back to this city of sixteen million in search of you.
So begins the first letter that falls into Wang’s lap as he flips down the visor in his taxi. The letters that follow are filled with the stories of Wang’s previous lives—from escaping a marriage to a spirit bride, to being a slave on the run from Genghis Khan, to living as a fisherman during the Opium Wars, and being a teenager on the Red Guard during the cultural revolution—bound to his mysterious “soulmate,” spanning one thousand years of betrayal and intrigue.
As the letters continue to appear seemingly out of thin air, Wang becomes convinced that someone is watching him—someone who claims to have known him for over one thousand years. And with each letter, Wang feels the watcher growing closer and closer…"
5. Try Not To Breathe by Holly Seddon
"Some secrets never die. They’re just locked away.
Alex Dale is lost. Destructive habits have cost her a marriage and a journalism career. All she has left is her routine: a morning run until her body aches, then a few hours of forgettable work before the past grabs hold and drags her down. Every day is treading water, every night is drowning. Until Alex discovers Amy Stevenson. Amy Stevenson, who was just another girl from a nearby town until the day she was found unconscious after a merciless assault. Amy Stevenson, who has been in a coma for fifteen years, forgotten by the world. Amy Stevenson, who, unbeknownst to her doctors, remains locked inside her body, conscious but paralyzed, reliving the past.
Soon Alex’s routine includes visiting hours at the hospital, then interviews with the original suspects in the attack. But what starts as a reporter’s story becomes a personal obsession. How do you solve a crime when the only witness lived but cannot tell the tale? Unable to tear herself away from her attempt to uncover the unspeakable truth, Alex realizes she’s not just chasing a story—she’s seeking salvation.
Shifting from present to past and back again, Try Not to Breathe unfolds layer by layer until its heart-stopping conclusion. The result is an utterly immersive, unforgettable debut."
Link to Vote
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZYSCBNV
Thurga Ganeshamoorthy
Director, Bookends
University of Toronto
Thank you for those of you that provided nominations for voting. Below you will find the books that have been chosen and the link to where you can go and vote. More information regarding the meeting date, time and location will be coming your way soon. Don't forget to vote for the book of February 2016. See you all soon!
Nominations
1. House of Echoes by Brendan Duffy
"In this enthralling and atmospheric thriller, one young family’s dream of a better life is about to become a nightmare.
Ben and Caroline Tierney and their two young boys are hoping to start over. Ben has hit a dead end with his new novel, Caroline has lost her banking job, and eight-year-old Charlie is being bullied at his Manhattan school.
When Ben inherits land in the village of Swannhaven, in a remote corner of upstate New York, the Tierneys believe it’s just the break they need, and they leave behind all they know to restore a sprawling estate. But as Ben uncovers Swannhaven’s chilling secrets and Charlie ventures deeper into the surrounding forest, strange things begin to happen. The Tierneys realize that their new home isn’t the fresh start they needed . . . and that the village’s haunting saga is far from over.
House of Echoes is a novel that shows how sometimes the ties that bind us are the only things that can keep us whole."
2. The Thing About Great White Sharks and other stories by Rebecca Adams Wright
3. Unwind by Neal Shusterman
With breathtaking suspense, this book follows three teens who all become runaway Unwinds: Connor, a rebel whose parents have ordered his unwinding; Risa, a ward of the state who is to be unwound due to cost-cutting; and Lev, his parents’ tenth child whose unwinding has been planned since birth as a religious tithing. As their paths intersect and lives hang in the balance, Shusterman examines complex moral issues that will keep readers turning the pages until the very end."
4. The Incarnations by Susan Barker
"Who are you? you must be wondering. I am your soulmate, your old friend, and I have come back to this city of sixteen million in search of you.
So begins the first letter that falls into Wang’s lap as he flips down the visor in his taxi. The letters that follow are filled with the stories of Wang’s previous lives—from escaping a marriage to a spirit bride, to being a slave on the run from Genghis Khan, to living as a fisherman during the Opium Wars, and being a teenager on the Red Guard during the cultural revolution—bound to his mysterious “soulmate,” spanning one thousand years of betrayal and intrigue.
As the letters continue to appear seemingly out of thin air, Wang becomes convinced that someone is watching him—someone who claims to have known him for over one thousand years. And with each letter, Wang feels the watcher growing closer and closer…"
5. Try Not To Breathe by Holly Seddon
"Some secrets never die. They’re just locked away.
Alex Dale is lost. Destructive habits have cost her a marriage and a journalism career. All she has left is her routine: a morning run until her body aches, then a few hours of forgettable work before the past grabs hold and drags her down. Every day is treading water, every night is drowning. Until Alex discovers Amy Stevenson. Amy Stevenson, who was just another girl from a nearby town until the day she was found unconscious after a merciless assault. Amy Stevenson, who has been in a coma for fifteen years, forgotten by the world. Amy Stevenson, who, unbeknownst to her doctors, remains locked inside her body, conscious but paralyzed, reliving the past.
Soon Alex’s routine includes visiting hours at the hospital, then interviews with the original suspects in the attack. But what starts as a reporter’s story becomes a personal obsession. How do you solve a crime when the only witness lived but cannot tell the tale? Unable to tear herself away from her attempt to uncover the unspeakable truth, Alex realizes she’s not just chasing a story—she’s seeking salvation.
Shifting from present to past and back again, Try Not to Breathe unfolds layer by layer until its heart-stopping conclusion. The result is an utterly immersive, unforgettable debut."
Link to Vote
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZYSCBNV
Thurga Ganeshamoorthy
Director, Bookends
University of Toronto
January 11, 2016
~ Welcome to 2016 ~
Hello Bookenders'!!!
Welcome to another brand new year and a new semester. I hope all of your breaks were great and full of well deserved rest. Welcome back to school and hope the first week goes great. Now that Bookends is back in session it is time to discuss the next book and theme we will be jumping into for the upcoming month. January will be about getting back into the rhythm of school and we will be looking into what the month of February will be all about.
The theme for February is........................................ Under-rated or upcoming and new authors!
Please send in nominations, the genera can range from anywhere you want but send in nominations when you get a chance. Voting will commence soon. Also make sure to fill out the doodle that was attached with the email that was sent out and cant wait to hear from you all soon.
Have a wonderful week!!
Thurga Ganeshamoorthy
Director, Bookends
University of Toronto St. George
Welcome to another brand new year and a new semester. I hope all of your breaks were great and full of well deserved rest. Welcome back to school and hope the first week goes great. Now that Bookends is back in session it is time to discuss the next book and theme we will be jumping into for the upcoming month. January will be about getting back into the rhythm of school and we will be looking into what the month of February will be all about.
The theme for February is........................................ Under-rated or upcoming and new authors!
Please send in nominations, the genera can range from anywhere you want but send in nominations when you get a chance. Voting will commence soon. Also make sure to fill out the doodle that was attached with the email that was sent out and cant wait to hear from you all soon.
Have a wonderful week!!
Thurga Ganeshamoorthy
Director, Bookends
University of Toronto St. George
December 02, 2015
~ December Break Announcement~
Hello Bookenders!
Hope everyone if doing well. Thank you so much to those of you who were able to come out to our November meeting. It's a hectic time of year for many of us, so it meant a lot. Just a quick note on the month of December; due to exams and the break coming up, Bookends will resume when second semester commences. So everyone good luck on assignmnets and exams coming your way. And hope all of you have a great holiday! Enjoy the much deserved break and hope you all get a chance to read as well.
Happy Reading,
Thurga Ganeshamoothy
Director, Bookends
University of Toronto
Hope everyone if doing well. Thank you so much to those of you who were able to come out to our November meeting. It's a hectic time of year for many of us, so it meant a lot. Just a quick note on the month of December; due to exams and the break coming up, Bookends will resume when second semester commences. So everyone good luck on assignmnets and exams coming your way. And hope all of you have a great holiday! Enjoy the much deserved break and hope you all get a chance to read as well.
Happy Reading,
Thurga Ganeshamoothy
Director, Bookends
University of Toronto
November 10, 2015
~ November's Book of the Month ~
Hello Bookenders'!!
Votes are in and a book has been chosen. For the month of November we will be reading.............
Votes are in and a book has been chosen. For the month of November we will be reading.............
Battle Royal by Koushun Takami
For this month we'll be focusing on the literature through both the written format and the illustrations as well. Can't wait to discuss this book. Below you will find information regarding our meeting date/location. Can't wait to see all of you. Until then Happy Reading!
- Meeting Information -
Date: Monday, November 30th, 2015
Time: 7:30 pm -8:15 pm
Location: Marvin Gerstein Room (main floor through the reading room doors)
Address -
Gerstein Science Information Centre
Sigmund Samuel Library Building
9 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A5
Sigmund Samuel Library Building
9 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A5
Thurga Ganeshamoorthy
Director, Bookends
University of Toronto
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