torontoc -reading and hopefully see more films this year

Hello
My name is Cyrel and I am a retired visual art teacher . This year I hope to do more reading and plan stepping back from some of the volunteer committees that took too much of my time last year. I am a member of a women's pottery co-op and do spend two days a week at the studio.

Hope you get more reading in this year too. Happy New Year, Cyrel.

Happy New Year! Looking forward to following your book and film journey again this year.

Hi Cyrel. Happy new year and new thread. Is this your only thread or do you have one in the 75ers, as well? I couldn't find one there. I've starred this one anyhow!

Hi, Cyrel
I'm always interested in your books and films

>3 labfs39: >4 jessibud2: >5 Nickelini: Thank you!
I hope to read more and see more this year. I do have a thread on the "75 ers" and try to keep both up to date.

My first book- I decided to reread my Harry Potter books.
1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling The touchstone has the alternate title but it is the same book. I have seen the films and going back to the first story was fun. Harry's unknowing use of magic with the snake was appreciated by me . I liked the introduction of his friends-Ron, Hermione and surprising to me for some reason Neville. I didn't realize or forgot about Neville's role. The introduction of the professors, Hagrid and Hogwarts School provide a good beginning to this involved story of Harry combatting evil.

Fun Cyrel. And you can rewatch the movies. 🙂

2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling This second book in the series describes Harry's second year at Hogwarts. There is a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor who is very sure of himself. Professor Snape is still very angry and biased against the Gryffindor students. Harry finally meets Tom Riddle and does save Ginny from a terrible fate in the Chamber of Secrets. The book introduces great characters and Harry discovers more about himself-a great reread!

3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling This third novel in the series was interesting in the depiction of Harry and his friends. They are still young and sometimes make childish decisions. The end of the story becomes complicated as the reader is introduced to some new characters- Sirius Black, Professor Lupin and mysterious rat belonging to Ron. I thought that the story seemed to rush the end revelations but I still want to continue reading!

>10 torontoc: That was my favourite of the books (I only read 1 - 4) and the films (I saw all, but lost interest by the final bunch)

My favorite was always book 2 - because of the diary that talks back to you. I loved that.

4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling In Harry's fourth year at Hogwarts he faces a number of challenges. He watches the Quidditch World Cup with the Weasley family and witnesses the disruption caused by mysterious sources. At school,He is entered in the TriWizard Tournament by another anonymous source. Harry is helped by his godfather Sirius Black but still is surprised by the events that end the tournament. The reader does learn probably too much information at the end of the book but this seems to be a regular device used by the author. We learn about the rise of " You Know Who" and the books ends with a caution about the evil forces set to make themselves known. Still a good read.

5. The Therafields Psychotherapy Community Promise, Betrayal and Demise by Brenda M. Doyle I was given this book by someone who actually lived at Therafields for a while. She cautioned me that the book contained some pretty awful stuff. And she was right. The author did live at Therafields for 17 years. She tried to be fair to the woman who ran this group but did report on the terrible things that happened. I can't believe that those people who were part of this massive therapy group allowed such radical influence in their lives. The worst was the separation of some children from their parents because the head of Therafields believed that the baby would be better off with other caregivers. Heads of the organization took more money and relied on the fees paid by parents of the Therafields school( a very bad school) and therapists working with this group. An eye-opening read.

6. On Her Own by Lihi Lapid This was the choice of my book club. I thought that the story was too long-some of the plot turns could have been covered in a briefer fashion. Nina is a teenager caught in a very bad relationship that leads her to run away from her boyfriend. She has quarrelled with her mother, Irina, but can't contact her because she has lost her phone. Nina takes refuge with Carmela, an older woman who probably has senility issues. Carmela thinks that Nina is her grand daughter, Dana. However Dana lives in the United States with her parents, Itamar and Naama. Itamar has been conflicted about staying in the US or moving back to Israel over the objections of his wife. Meanwhile he has neglected his mother Carmela who barely survives with the help of some friendly neighbors who own a convenience store. Nina does help Carmela while hiding out from her former boyfriend. There are a lot of story lines that really are not resolved.

>14 torontoc: whoa

7. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling This is the fifth volume in the Harry Potter series. I am amazed that I forgot some of the details so in a way it is like reading the book for the first time. The first time that I read this series I think that I missed that Harry is still a young adolescent. Harry and his friends survive the takeover of their school by the Ministry of Magic who of course get everything wrong. The threat of evil Lord Voldemort is becoming stronger as he gathers his supporters. Still a great read.

8. One Little Goat: A Passover Catastrophe by Dara Horn and Theo Ellsworth This graphic novel looks to a contemporary Passover dinner or seder and takes it into the realm of fantasy. The piece of matzah that is hidden and then found by children is the last thing that has to be eaten before the rest of the seder service can continue. In this family the matzah cannot be found. A goat comes to take the eldest child back through Jewish history to look at why and how the service is important. A great story for today's young adults.

9. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling The sixth book in the Harry Potter series shows Harry learning more about the history of Tom Riddle and how he turned into Voldemort. Headmaster Dumbledore asks Harry to take on a very dangerous task. The reader learns about the identity of the Half- Blood Prince. Again a good read!

>8 dchaikin: That looks adorable. The only thing I've read by Dara Horn so far is her book on antisemitism, so it's hard for me to imagine her writing in a children's book like this, but it looks really sweet.

>20 Julie_in_the_Library: It is a great book for adolescents- a not so perfect family, a weird goat and discussions with important figures in Jewish history.

10. The Shelf They Lost Geffen Press. This is a very unusual children's book published by Geffen Press. As an Early Reviewer choice, I had mixed feelings whether the aim of the story was met and perhaps understood. Juice boxes are very happy on their shelf in the grocery store. Soon they are displaced and victimized. After some terrible things happened to many of the juice boxes, they are restored to their own shelf. The idea seems to be that we should tolerate each other and support everyone's place in our society. Does this story work- I really don't know. Will it teach everyone to respect each other- I hope so.

11. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling Ah, the last in the series of stories about Harry Potter. Harry finds that he has to run and hide when the forces of evil take over the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts. The shock of the death of his mentor, Dumbledore leads Harry to concentrate on the quest that he was supposed to follow in order to defeat Voldemort. Helped by Ron and Hermione, Harry discovers the clues that help him and his friends defeat the evil forces. I thought that too many explanations happen at the end of the book!

12. Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See I found the opening chapters of this novel very slow. I am glad that the story " picked up " as it was very interesting. The details of life for wealthy women in the years 1406-1500's Ming China revealed very strong rules about what to do and not. Tan Yunxian is the daughter in a family that has high status. She is also the granddaughter of two physicians. She learns about treating women for various ailments. After marriage Yunxian is forbidden to help women by her mother -in-law. The reader learns how she manages to progress in her knowledge of medicine. Yunxian's friendship with a young mid-wife helps her understand more about the preservation of health for women. The details of medicine and herbal use would interest doctors who read this book. I did found the story more compelling towards the end of the book.

13. Book Of Lives A Memoir of Sorts by Margaret Atwood This is an amazing book by the author. She recounts her life really from the beginning with brief introductions to her parents and their life in the woods of Ontario and Quebec. ( I couldn't recount the details of my early life the way Margaret Atwood does) The reader learns of her early education and what turns her into a poet and then an author of fiction. Margaret Atwood is very frank about her early relationships both romantic and literary. There is gossip, much gossip. Her partner, Graeme Gibson is introduced and the reader learns about their life together. The memoir is funny. I highly recommend it.

>24 torontoc: that sounds good

>25 Nickelini: It was a very satisfying read!
14. Heart of a Stranger An Unlikely Rabbi's story of Faith, Identity and Belonging by Angela Buchdahl This memoir by the author and Rabbi of Central Synagogue in New York City is beautifully written. The author's mother is a Korean Buddhist and her father a Jewish ex-service man-they met in Korea. Eventually the family( parents and two daughters) moved to Tacoma, Washington. Buchdahl fully embraced being Jewish at the family's synagogue. Her studies led her to Yale and later training as a cantor and rabbi in the Reform Jewish movement. Each chapter of the book is followed by a teaching in Jewish studies. Buchdahl had experienced doubts by herself and others of her Jewish identity but shows her readers how she combines all aspects of her heritage.The reader also learns about her work during COVID, her experience with a man taking hostages at a synagogue in Texas and more. This is a very inspiring book.

15. The Spy and the Traitor The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War by Ben Macintyre Oleg Gordievsky was a KGB officer of the Soviet Union who served in Denmark and the United Kingdom. His father was a KGB agent heavily involved in Stalin's purges. Gordievsky became a M16 spy as well. The author relates how Gordievsky became disillusioned with the Soviet government and how he gave the English detailed information on the workings of the KGB and Soviet government policies. Gordievsky was probably identified as a spy by an American working for the CIA. The story of how British authorities planned and executed his escape from Russia is the stuff of thrillers. This is a second read of this book for me.

15. The Spy and the Traitor The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War by Ben Macintyre Oleg Gordievsky was a KGB officer of the Soviet Union who served in Denmark and the United Kingdom. His father was a KGB agent heavily involved in Stalin's purges. Gordievsky became a M16 spy as well. The author relates how Gordievsky became disillusioned with the Soviet government and how he gave the English detailed information on the workings of the KGB and Soviet government policies. Gordievsky was probably identified as a spy by an American working for the CIA. The story of how British authorities planned and executed his escape from Russia is the stuff of thrillers. This is a second read of this book for me.

>24 torontoc: I’m glad you enjoyed Atwood’s memoir. I agree with all you say. It is amazing

>26 torontoc: Heart of a Stranger sounds good

>29 dchaikin: Yes, those two books were great reads for me.
16. Unstoppable Us How Enemies Became Friends Vol 3 by Yuval Noah Harari and illustrated by Ricard Zaplana Ruiz This history of very early civilizations is directed at a middle school reader. The subject is how many early groups of people who lived in different parts of the Mediterranean conquered and were influenced by the societies that they encountered. Fictional children discussed their beliefs and how they approach those who are different from them. I thought that the settings for discussions around religion, language and life were very well presented. The format of the book involves the use of many background colours for the text. The one criticism that I have is some pages were too dark for my taste. Yet I would give this book and the series to young people who are looking for answers to questions on nationalities and differences.

17. The Ratline The Exalted Life and Mysterious Death of a Nazi Fugitive by Phillippe Sands Phillippe Sands wrote a book East West Street about his grandfather's family that had been murdered during the Holocaust. In the course of his research Sands met Niklas the son of Hans Frank-the Nazi Governor of Occupied Poland. Niklas Frank was very vocal in his oppostion to his father's activites. Niklas suggested that Sands should meet the son of Otto Wachter , one of Hans Frank's deputies and the Nazi governor of Lemberg. This meeting with Horst Wachter led to Sands investigating the life of Otto and Charlotte Wachter and the cause of Otto's death in 1949. Horst believed that his father had nothing to do with the extermination of Jews and he thought that his father had been poisoned in Rome. Sands was able to read the extensive notes that Charlotte made about her life and that of her husband. The author noted the inconsistencies in Charlotte's notes and did his own research on the points raised by Horst. The two men did remain somewhat frriends during the whole investigative process. Sands uncovered the work of those who helped Nazi fugitives flee Europe for South America and Syria. This was a very interesting history to read.

>31 torontoc: interesting stuff. Strange to work with the children of Nazis.

>31 torontoc: Yes, Sands had a lot to say about Horst 's blindspot to his father's real wartime activities

18. You're All Jealous of My Jetpack by Tom Gauld And now for something light! I reread a collection of Gauld's cartoons. They are funny and in some cases have a sense of the ridiculous. In these perilous times it is important to look at the silly and ...sometimes sublime.

>33 torontoc: You're All Just Jealous of My Jetpack sounds utterly delightful. I'll see if I can borrow a copy of it from my local library.

>34 kidzdoc: Any of Tom Gauld's books of cartoons are funny- I liked Physics for Cats and The Revenge of the Librarians as well

19. The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo Wow! This novel is terrific. Set in 1931 Malaya(now Malaysia) the story follows three narrators. Ji Lin is a young woman who works for a dressmaker and also makes extra money by dancing in a dance-hall. She is paying off the man jong debts of her mother. Ji Lin aspires to be more educated but her step-father made her leave school. Her step brother Shin is trying to be a doctor. Ren is a boy who works for Dr. William Acton. Acton has secrets of his own in the small town where he works in the hospital. Ji Lin and Ren have similar dreams that become an important part of the story. Ji Lin takes a bottle from a salesman who dances with her. This bottle with a severed finger becomes an object that a number of people want to acquire. Ren is looking to keep the promise that he made to his former employer. And there is perhaps a tiger that has been killing and eating two young women. The reader learns slowly about why and how the murders take place and the mystery behind the stolen fingers. A great read!

>36 torontoc: I will look for this one.

>36 torontoc: You enjoyed this one more than I. While I enjoyed learning about Malaysian folklore, I thought the historical aspect was lacking, and that's an aspect that has to be done well, or else it taints the book for me.

>37 RidgewayGirl: >38 labfs39: I was taken in by the mystery! I hope that the author does write a sequel.

20.Canada We Are The Story by Richard Wagamese and illustrated by Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley This children's book is based on a poem by the author .( called the Canada Poem) The illustrations are very powerful and quite stunning. A little girl and her fellow students are asked by their teacher to write a passage on What Makes Your Proud to be a Canadian. This is the illustrator's prompt to the poem by the author. The little girl imagines her Indigenous ancestors responding and showing her heritage. The story includes the many peoples who make up the country. The ideas of creation, souls, and grandeur of country remind the little girl that she is part of a powerful and important part of her world. This is a beautiful book and the art helps emphasize the really great poem.

21. Antwerp The Glory Years by Michael Pye This history of Antwerp during the height of its heyday and later during the downfall makes for very interesting reading. Antwerp became a commercial powerhouse where merchants from all countries and religions were allowed to trade and make deals with everyone. The printing of books was a very important part of Antwerp's success to trade with groups of all religions. Nominally controlled by the Hapsburgs and later the kings of Spain, the city's officials helped to temper edicts on how the inhabitants had to live and worship. There is a section on how Jewish merchants were able to use the city as a place of business before leaving for the more welcome Turkish empire. Pye also describes what happens when the very Catholic ruler of the Netherlands( the Spanish) clamps down on religious freedom. Merchants leave and the city loses it's power and influence as a commercial powerhouse.

>40 torontoc: sounds interesting!

>41 FlorenceArt: It was- many facts about the "heyday" of the city.

22. The High Road Confessions of a Homicide Cop by Hank Idsinga This memoir by a senior officer in the Toronto Police Force may seem geared to a local audience. The author had retired after almost 33 years on the police force. He recounted the many murder investigations that he was part of as a member of the homicide team or as head. What makes Idsinga's story different is how he views relationships in the police force and in the community. Idsinga's grandfather was Jewish and was murdered in a concentration camp. His mother, aunt and uncle were hidden in Catholic orphanages in Holland. Idsinga never told anyone in the police force about his background. What he found were some officers and senior staff slandered Jews in conversation. He also points out how Black constables were discriminated against in promotions. These incidents lead him to leave the force. He found that complaining about bad behaviour led to him being excluded from major decision making. He does praise many of the officers that he worked with on difficult cases.I found the story very interesting. After the book was published the police force responded by saying that he should have complained and now will establish a review. Idsinga doesn't not hold much hope for any in house review.

23. Billie Builds a Robocorn by Jose Avelino Gilles Lourenco and illustrated by James Braithwaite This Early Reviewers children's book is perfect for young inquiring minds. Billie is a young inventor. She has a best friend who creates great new machines with her. Unfortunately Billie and her father have to move. Billie decides that she will build a new friend- a robocorn. The Robocorn of her dreams is very different than the one that she builds. When the Robocorn isn't able to manage the swing in the park, Billie meets a new friend, Elif. The two young girls have the same interests and develop a friendship. This very optimistic story has great illustrations that will intrigue a young person. Highly recommended.

>42 torontoc: I always remember seeing Idsinga on TV during the search which ended with the arrest of Bruce McArthur, and thinking what a very difficult job he had, and how what he knew must scar him forever. I had no idea of his work environment at the time, which could only have added to the rest of the horror.
I have heard him interviewed a couple of times about this book. It sounded to me that although the events were local, it could well be the work background in many forces, and for that alone it would be worth reading.

>44 SassyLassy: It is a good book- I learned a lot about the whole investigative process.

I, too, remember that Idsinga first came onto my radar during the horrific time of the McArthur murders. I also thought he was a smart, well-spoken, and wondered how such a career affected his personal life. I can't imagine.

I bet writing this book was cathartic for him, at the very least.

- edited to correct the spelling of Idsinga. I wrote this post from my phone which has an idiotic habit of auto-correcting things to words that make no sense and that I did not type. Sheesh

>46 jessibud2: I think so- he has done a number of interviews on radio.

24. Lazar by Nelio Biedermann and translated from the German by Jamie Bulloch This novel follows many generations of the aristocratic Lazar family at their homes and estates in Hungary. The times covered are the early 20th century to 1956. Members of the family have many conflicts to work through in relationships to behaviours during times of war. Some have been disturbed by visions from the dark forest near their castle. Sometimes it seems that the family has sleepwalked through the changes that changed Hungary during the 20th century. This is a thoroughly engrossing read.

25. Songs for the Broken Hearted by Ayelet Tsabari Zohara has come back to Israel for her mother's funeral. She had a complicated relationship with her mother. Right after Zohara's father died, she was sent to an elite private school in Jerusalem. Her Yemeni background was considered primitive. In fact the story of Yemeni Jews who came to Israel is covered in the stories of Yaqub and Saida. There is so much that is revealed in Zohara's and Saida's background. The author talks about the disappearance of Yemeni babies from hospitals in the early 1950's, the practice of Yemeni family second wives, the discrimination, and finally the emerging recognition of the strong song history of Yemeni women. Zohara's life and relationships are presented as chaotic. The novel shows how she learns to understand her late mother and create more positive aspects in her own life. A great read.

Enticing review

>50 labfs39: It is a really good read with lots of history revealed.

26. Son of Nobody by Yann Martel Martel imagines that there was another account of the Trojan War. His main character, Harlow Donne, receives a grant to study papyrus fragments at Oxford as part of his doctoral work. He leaves Canada for a proposed year of study. Harlow does not have a good relationship with his wife, Gail, but loves his eight year old daughter , Helen. The reader gets the impression that Harlow is caught up with his discoveries in Oxford and neglects his family relationships. Although Harlow's Oxford supervisor gives him a very uninspired task, Harlow turns to translating an account of the Trojan War by a Greek commoner named Psoad. This epic previously undiscovered poem-the Psoad- has a very different view of the struggle between the Trojans and Greeks. Martel sets up the physical structure of the book so that the upper half of the pages have the poem and the lower half his comments and the narrative with Gail about tragic events at home. There is more poverty, anger, desperate killing and grief in the Psoad. I did like the structure of this book.

27. The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams and illustrated by William Nicholson I took a summer course on education many years ago. One of the instructors was a very creative and I think brilliant, man. Near the end of the session one of the students asked what book would he recommend to us to help build a rewarding curriculum. He said The Velveteen Rabbit,. I puzzled over this choice. I recently reread this book. What was so important with a story that today is dated in assumptions and story. What student would know about having a nanny, getting scarlet fever and living in a nursery? I thought about and think that I have a partial answer. Kindness- the story and reward are about being kind and rewarding good actions. Certainly kindness is a quality that we all need today.

28.When I'm a Moshom by David A. Robertson and illustrated by Corrie Hill This Early Reviewers children's book has a lot of lessons to give to the reader. Told from the point of view of a young Indigenous child, the narrator describes the importance of a grandfather. Activities that the child takes part in such as hockey, fishing, swimming and dancing are cheered on by the grandfather. Indigenous teachings about heritage and customs are important lessons to learn from the grandfather. The illustrations fit beautifully into the narrative. Readers also learn Swampy Cree words that are integrated into the story. This is a great story to give to and read to a young child

29. AutocorrectStories by Etgar Keret This is the second time that I have read this collection of bizarre and interesting stories. Some are related to science fiction and some to life in Israel. The science fiction stories have a worrisome relation to the power of A.I. some are bittersweet. A collection worth reading.

30. A Fool's Kabbalah by Steve Stern I haven't read anything by this author in a while. I did like the premise at first. This historical novel imagines that Gershom Scholem, the famous scholar of Kabbalah travels to post War Europe in order to persuade present governments to send precious Jewish archives and books to the Hebrew University. His journey is not successful. He does stop by a very small hovel of a village and participates in a failed attempt to smuggle books to Palestine but is stopped by the British. A second story that is supposed to connect with the first focuses on this same small town and a character who is really the town's clown- Menke. Menke is love with the Rabbis' daughter, Blume. His antics take place when the German army takes control of the town. The list of terrible things that happen in the town really doesn't have anything to do with the first story. There is no sense of retribution or in some cases of decency in decisions made. I was unsettled by the ending and non resolution.

Definition of Kabbalah- (literally "received" or "tradition") is the ancient esoteric discipline of Jewish mysticism. It seeks to decode the hidden, spiritual meaning behind the Torah, explain the metaphysical nature of the cosmos, and explore mankind’s deeply intimate relationship with the infinite God.