Tag: signal to noise

Features

Favourite Books I Want to Re-Read

by Ida6 Comments on Favourite Books I Want to Re-Read

fullsizeoutput_b9a.jpeg

To read a book for the first time is to make the acquaintance of a new friend; to read it a second time is to meet an old one. – Chinese Proverb

I don’t re-read books often. In fact, it’s kind of rare for me to do so. I suppose this is partly because there are so many books out there and there is always something new to grab my attention. But even more than that, I feel that I do have a hesitancy to read books that I have already read and loved. That experience and connection that happens when you first read a story is really special, and with every new book I reach for, I hope for that little bit of magic. When I do get that, I tend to tuck it away, leaving it in that space and time. Because magic is hard to replicate. Maybe the present experience can cast a shadow over the initial one. Like old TV shows that I adored as a kid, that fell completely flat when I watched them as an adult. Recently however, in reference to the Chinese Proverb, I have felt more and more the desire to meet old friends. To have new experiences with old favourites. That initial connection will always be in that time and place. And perhaps there will be that magic of the past, or perhaps there will be a whole new kind of magic. We have to keep the door open, right? 🙂 Continue reading “Favourite Books I Want to Re-Read” →

Recommendations

Cozy Reads For Cold Winter Days

by IdaLeave a Comment on Cozy Reads For Cold Winter Days

Processed with VSCO with hb1 preset

It is that time of year where the end of winter is within reach but it still feels ways away. That leaves us with many opportunities to get cozy with a hot drink and a page-turning read. During the colder months I tend to enjoy a lot of mysteries and thrillers, but I am very much a mood reader, and some days I may feel like reading anything from science-fiction to a nice contemporary romance. Here is a suggestion from different genres. Hope you find your next cozy read! Continue reading “Cozy Reads For Cold Winter Days” →

Lists, Recommendations

Favourite Books of 2015

by Ida5 Comments on Favourite Books of 2015

“A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading.”

2015 was a great reading year.  I discovered new authors, enjoyed styles of writing I had not read before, and came across books that soon became a treasured part of my bookshelf.

When choosing my favourites of the year, I selected those that I not only loved but would love to re-read.

IMG_0178

1. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
Sometimes a book finds you at at the right time, and The Storied Life A.J. Fikry was one of those books.  I went through a long period of time where I fell out of reading, when life started to feel overwhelming.  When I was looking for a book to get back into the swing of things, I ended up picking up The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry and it really touched my heart.  A bookstore owner, who is grieving the loss of his wife and isolated himself from others, finds an unexpected package left at his store that changes the course of his life.  It’s a beautiful story, and on top of that, one that serves as a love letter to books.

2. Signal to Noise by Sylvia Moreno-Garcia
A charming debut novel that alternates between 1988 and 2009 in Mexico City.  It follows a girl named Meche and her two best friends, Sebastian and Daniela.  Inseparable friends each dealing with personal challenges who discover they can cast spells through music.

3. A Robot in the Garden by Deborah Install
Another wonderful debut novel.  This one is about a man named Ben Chambers who is stuck in a rut and dealing with marriage problems.  One day his wife discovers a robot in their garden, which makes Ben embark on a journey that changes his life.

IMG_0180

4. The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender
The title completely got me with this one, and the book as a whole delivers. A unique story about a girl named Rose who can taste people’s emotions through the food they make.  We follow Rose from the age of eight, when she first discovers her ability, to her early twenties and see the ways it alters her reality.

5. Vicious by V.E. Schwab
The moment I finished the last page of Vicious, it became an all time favourite.  It’s one that has been on my reading list for a while, and I only wish I had read it sooner.  Two best friends turned enemies set on revenge.  The story, the characters, the writing… all brilliant.

6. The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
A smart, character driven debut novel that is absolutely brilliant.  It follows a nine-member crew travelling on a tunnelling ship whose job it is to punch holes through space in order to create shortcuts.

Hope 2016 brings many more brilliant reads. 🙂

Book Reviews, Fiction

Signal to Noise by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

by IdaLeave a Comment on Signal to Noise by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

BLOG‘There is magic everywhere, if you look carefully.’

Mexico City, 1988: Fifteen year old Meche is an awkward, unpopular girl in school who loves music and math.  She spends most of her time with her two best friends Sebastian and Daniela.  Life is not ideal for the three friends with each of them dealing with different struggles, from family problems to unfulfilled desires. They learn they can use music to cast spells and set out to better their circumstances, attempting to use magic to turn things around in their favour.

Mexico City, 2009: Meche is a successful computer programmer in Oslo, Norway. She has returned to Mexico City after twenty years away to attend her estranged father’s funeral, and is faced with the past and everything she had long left behind, including her two friends.

Signal to Noise is a wonderfully charming and engaging debut novel from author Silvia Moreno-Garcia.  It alternates between 1988 and 2009 and does so seamlessly. Both time periods are equally compelling and complement each other very well, moving the narrative forward.  It is a story about friendship, hope, love, the magic of music, and dreams of youth.  The challenges and disappointments of adulthood and recapturing what has been lost.  It is a touching story that will make you smile and tear up in the best way.  Moreno-Garcia presents a beautifully written novel with memorable characters that is captivating from beginning to end.

Playlist for “Signal to Noise” created by the author.

Favourite quote: “They folded and kept their dreams in the same drawer, spun fantasies side by side, lived in the easy harmony of youth which did not know the need for tall walls and sturdy defenses.”