Category: books

I rate.

~ Lkvy ~ 2 Comments

I finished reading Wavewalker 4 days ago and gave it a 4.75-star rating. Ed, who recommended Wavewalker, suggested that I read The Stranger in the Woods by Michael Finkel next. But because it falls under the same genre as Wavewalker and I like mixing things up, I opted instead for Ed’s favourite book, East of Eden by John Steinbeck.

Yesterday, Ed messaged me: “My hot take: you don’t have to finish a book.”

I figured his message pertained to my rating system, as Zoée had also taken issue with how I rate books, specifically Feeding Ghosts.

Continue reading “I rate.” →

Going pear-shaped.

~ Lkvy ~ Leave a comment

There hasn’t been much of a lull in my summer, leaving me with little time to finish the Slovenian Chronicles. When I’m not working, riding, or running, I’m getting sidetracked by inconsequential mysteries, such as a pile of pears.

Exhibit A:

Without a single pear tree nearby and the nearest source of pears being the supermarket at the other end of the parking lot, I had to wonder how this pile of pears came to be. It’s been consuming me. Do we have a pear stealing whore in our midst? What’s the story here?

And…

Exhibit B:

I’ve also been reading an actual story. Ed, who has been anxiously awaiting my recaps of our time in Slovenia, clearly did not think through the consequences of suggesting such a riveting read.

Wavewalker is a true tale about a couple who refused to let parenthood hold them back from achieving their bizarre dream of following Captain Cook’s third voyage around the world. Oddly specific. Although the kids came along, they ditched the family dog in England. To pursue this adventure, they sold nearly everything they owned to buy a 23m-long wooden schooner, which became their home for the next decade.

A year into their voyage, while sailing the southern Indian Ocean, 50-foot waves driven by hurricane-force winds pinballed the family around in the boat’s cabin. The vessel almost sank, and the author, then just 7 years old, suffered a fractured skull. Despite this close call, Captain Papa’s resilience was praised by the press, and the journey was celebrated by the public and media.

Captain Papa didn’t even know how to swim!

Secondhand rage towards the author’s parents aside, I’m really enjoying the book. What can I say? Boat stories float my boat.

You know what else involves boats? Lake Bled.

Continue reading “Going pear-shaped.” →

After the hail, it’s too late to ring the bell.

~ Lkvy ~ Leave a comment

As much as I love the convenience of my e-reader, I won’t pass up on a good freebie paperback from one of the many mini libraries spread throughout the city. Many of these book exchanges are in a sorry state: packed with a jumble of yellowing textbooks with out-of-date information, children’s books that look like they were mostly used for teething, travel guidebooks for countries that no longer exist, bread machine recipe books, and more.

Since taking up running, I’ve developed an eye for quality mini libraries. It’s not difficult to tell which ones have turned into dumping grounds for old flyers, even when whipping by in my sneakers. The best ones have a quick turnover of books, and I’ve learned which ones do after a few passes. The last mini library to make me double back had me finish the last kilometre of my run carrying a mint copy of Barbara Kingsolver’s hefty novel, Demon Copperhead, in one hand.

Coincidentally, a few days earlier, I had come across a Reddit thread discussing books that are excellent from start to finish, and Demon Copperhead was among the most upvoted titles. The copy I’d acquired begins with four pages of accolades from individuals and publications, most of whom I wasn’t familiar with. The Financial Times voted it “Book of the Year,” which doesn’t seem like much of a compliment coming from a group of people who get amped over reading about economic current affairs.

Nevertheless, the story has truly been good every bit of the way. By Chapter 24, it dawned on me that I’d developed feelings for a fictional character. A child, no less. I plowed through these last few uncomfortable paragraphs of this chapter hoping the kid would escape their predicament unscathed, even though I knew the narrative wasn’t headed that way. Next time, I won’t be so quick to dismiss the literary choices of Financial Times readers.

Although I didn’t take it home, this book also evoked a strong wave of emotions:

Continue reading “After the hail, it’s too late to ring the bell.” →

Thus begins the trip recap.

~ Lkvy ~ 1 Comment

Your blog is no longer something that belongs to you alone, so if there’s a reason why you’re not updating it, then you need to communicate that. Please ensure that you are reachable at all times. You didn’t reply to my messages, and I was concerned for you.

The relevance of this quote from my current read, Hooked by Asako Yuzuki, feels like a fitting way to resurface after an almost month-long hiatus. The story follows a socially awkward woman named Eriko, who becomes obsessed with a popular blogger known for her unfiltered posts. Eriko is so self-unaware that even when she intentionally bumps into the blogger, Shoko, at her favourite café, she doesn’t realize how stalkerish her actions are. Initially, Shoko bonds with Eriko, but Shoko soon realizes that something is off about the woman. Sensing impending rejection, Eriko scrambles to manipulate Shoko’s impression of her to align with her idealized self-image.

Like Shoko, I did not start my blog aspiring to become an influencer, especially since “influencer” wasn’t yet in the lexicon when I started blogging in 2000. Unlike Shoko, my candour has yet to attract a large following. This blog remains a niche within a nearly dead form of digital media.

So, thanks for sticking around awaiting my resurrection.

I got back from Slovenia last Thursday, spent an evening in Vancouver and then, from Swartz Bay, carrying nearly the same amount of load as I did three weeks earlier, I made the sunny return home riding on the Lochside Trail. Three weeks continues to be my limit for being away from home. I travel because I seek adventure, not because I don’t already live in a place bursting with beauty, as was evident while rolling towards home. Even the annoyingly strong headwind wasn’t enough to wipe the smile off my face.

Summarizing my three-week trip will be no small feat. I plan on publishing it in fun-sized, easily digestible bits, peppered with post-trip events; otherwise, I’ll never catch up, and you guys will kick into tl;dr mode.

Also relevant:

Continue reading “Thus begins the trip recap.” →