Nutana Library

Sketches is a book that came highly recommended by the Nutana Book club. This book gives a very realistic portrayal of street life. Dana meets up with Brent and Ashley after she runs away from home. They learn to survive by begging for spare change, scrounging for food and sleeping in squats. Dana is a very talented young painter that hones her skills at a drop-in youth shelter.

I understand runaway teenagers a lot better after reading this book and I appreciate what a sheltered life I have lead.

Quotes from students from the Nutana Book club:

“This book is awesome!”

“A perfect portrayal of street life.”

“The characters are very realistic.”

“I couldn’t put it down.”

“The description of Dana’s painting was excellent.”

Read this book!

Over the weekend I read an excellent auto-biography by James Tyman.  James is a Native Canadian that was adopted by a white family in the early 1970′s.  His adopted family raised him with love but he never felt like he fit in.  He thought of himself as an “apple” and was deeply hurt by the racism in our society.  He lead a very violent and tragic life.  I have a greater understanding of street life after reading this book.  I found it really eerie reading about Saskatoon landmarks such as “The Barry”, “The Albany” and “The Capri”.

What did you read this weekend?

 -Tanya Derbowka

In 2004 5th House Publishing brought 34 biographies of a variety of Saskatchewan’s  pioneers, all in one slim 232 page volume.  The photos at the beginning of each chapter introduce a range of writers, artists, politicians, freedom fighters, soldiers and health care professionals.  The user friendly stories include a Seeger Wheeler, a visionary wheat grower and Joe and Mattie Mayes, Black Settlers who farmed near Maidstone. We also learn Walter Scott’s (first premier of the province) two secrets.  The index is a great feature of the book.

This book is nonfiction.  Kay, a psychology professor, describes her journey during her twenties when she slowly begins to realize that she has bipolar.  Her writing is clever and reveals some humorous moment.  While she is working on writing her thesis she can work incessantly on her writing during her insomnia and very active phase of the condition.  She manages to accomplish a lot during the high phase and is not accountable during her low phase because she has control over when she is working on the thesis.  At one point she is absolutely compelled to purchase ten snake bite kits. 

What episode in this book caught your attention?

Dear learners,

Write us a message about a story or book relating to the Halloween theme.  Have you read a ghost story recently?

Thank you.

Your librarian.

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