Aisling - Calgary, AB, Canada (9 books)

Aisling is now friends with Hannah

Aisling joined the The Quilting Bee and Dystopias and Social Critiques groups.

Aisling gave

to:

I Was a Teenage Katima-Victim by Will Ferguson

I Was a Teenage Katima-Victim: A Canadian Odyssey
by Will Ferguson

read in September, 2006

My rating:

This book is a must have for anybody who has participated in Katimavik, or is thinking about it. Sadly, it is now out of print, which to me, makes my copy that much more important and valuable.

I first read this book before participating in Katimavik ...moreThis book is a must have for anybody who has participated in Katimavik, or is thinking about it. Sadly, it is now out of print, which to me, makes my copy that much more important and valuable.

I first read this book before participating in Katimavik (but after I'd been accepted) and I absolutely loved it. Of course, the program in the 80s was a bit different than it was when I participated in the 2000s, but the backbone and soul of the program was all there. This book cemented my desire to participate, and I would often read through it when the excitement of my impending departure was too much to bear.

Quite surprisingly, the book had A LOT of similarities to my actual experience, including the order of placements (I started in the same city, Kelowna, BC, before moving on to Ontario and Quebec). Re-reading the book while in the program, I was literally able to live the first section of the book in Kelowna, although the city had grown a bit since the author had lived there. It was like stepping into a favourite book. I could also see my group mates and project leaders in the characters and recognize the little things that someone who wasn't in the program just wouldn't "get." Soon my group mates all wanted to read it, and we laughed over the similarities and discussed the differences.

Now that I've been an alumni of the program for nearly 5 years, I use this book as a way to reflect on it all: my expectations, my experience and my life following this amazing opportunity that I had (which I am still gushing about half a decade later!). The program has changed a lot in the last few years, and I feel this book serves as a reminder of "the good old days," which is another reason I'm bummed that it is out of print. I believe if Canadian politicians could hear this story, my story and the story of the thousands of young people who grew into amazing adults because of Katimavik, the program could thrive once more and return to these incredible roots where anybody can take off and travel and learn about themselves and others without having to pay hefty fees and go through lengthy application processes.

Will Ferguson truly captures the spirit of what it means to be a young person looking for adventure and a place to belong in this vast country and I thank him so much for it.(less)

Aisling gave

to:

How I Paid for College: A Novel of Sex, Theft, Friendship & Musical Theater
by Marc Acito

read in April, 2007

My rating:

This is just a really fun book. It's crazy, not entirely relatable, not particularly dramatic. It's just a fun, fluffy romp that will bring back ridiculous memories to any high school drama nerd. I first picked it up off a discount table when I was l...more

Aisling is now following Haley's reviews

Aisling gave

to:

The Perks of Being a Wallflower
by Stephen Chbosky

read in February, 2011

My rating:

As this is one of the quintessential YA hipster novels, I took the opportunity to read first read this book on a Greyhound between two large cities without much in between, while listening to a collection of "indie" music that would make Charlie envi...moreAs this is one of the quintessential YA hipster novels, I took the opportunity to read first read this book on a Greyhound between two large cities without much in between, while listening to a collection of "indie" music that would make Charlie envious. I laughed at the irony of it all, and curled up to read, occasionally taking the time to gaze out my window and contemplate life. At 22, I lost myself into the world of this quirky 15 year old boy. A year later, I continue to absolutely adore this novel, and my copy now has highlighted quotes and notes scribbled in the margins.

I understand this book to be a product of MTV and it certainly reflects the pop culture of the time. And it is quotable. Boy, is it quotable. I knew the majority of the quotes, without actually knowing where they were from, well before I picked up a copy of my own. I don't know if the goal was to coin catchphrases and provide soundbites for graduation ceremonies, but that's certainly what was accomplished. I'd be lying if I said I haven't considered getting "In that moment, I swear we were infinite," tattooed somewhere on my body.

I found the characters to be interesting and relatable. I felt like I vividly knew each one of them and drew several parallels between them and my group of friends in high school. It's a time of heightened drama and emotion and Charlie personifies that quite well. When Charlie finds something to be tragic, I find something to be tragic, even if, when removed from the world and put back into my 23 year old brain, it seems trivial at times.

I find myself engaged in books where the protagonist is a little bit "off," because I feel most people aren't running at the typical level of "normalcy" found in psychological textbooks, and that it's easier to relate to. I can't relate to a character who is completely off the rails, or one which is the perfect balance of logic. To me, Charlie is normal, despite his flaws and post traumatic stress disorder. Sure, not everyone will go through a traumatic experience in life that warrants losing control for a little while, but I think that everyone will contemplate how their mind works and wonder how they measure up compared to the people around them, which makes Charlie a member of my peer group, in my opinion.(less)

Aisling gave

to:

Never Let Me Go
by Kazuo Ishiguro

read in September, 2010

My rating:

I don't remember why I picked up this book, but I must say I wasn't impressed initially. It took me a while to get into it. Soon, though, I became completely enthralled. Mainly what I think I liked about it was its simplicity and how understated so m...moreI don't remember why I picked up this book, but I must say I wasn't impressed initially. It took me a while to get into it. Soon, though, I became completely enthralled. Mainly what I think I liked about it was its simplicity and how understated so much of it seemed. I started to think about how the novel would have been written by another author.

(view spoiler)(less)

Aisling gave

to:

Holding Still for as Long as Possible
by Zoe Whittall (Goodreads Author)

read in July, 2011

My rating:

This novel was a bit difficult to get into and overall I didn't really relate to any of the characters as a whole, but rather saw bits of myself and people I knew throughout. I felt anxious the entire time I was reading it, possibly because so much o...more

Aisling gave

to:

Sisterhood Everlasting (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, #5)
by Ann Brashares

read in June, 2011

My rating:

I know that life is hard and a lot can change in a 10 years and whatnot, but... I did not like this book. I was very excited to see what my favourite characters from the Sisterhood were up to, at first. And I'd like to think I went into it with an op...more

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Aisling is now friends with Hannah
Jan 08, 2012 06:11am
Aisling joined the The Quilting Bee and Dystopias and Social Critiques groups.
Jan 08, 2012 12:24am · see group
Aisling gave to: I Was a Teenage Katima-Victim: A Canadian Odyssey by Will Ferguson read in September, 2006	My rating:
This book is a must have for anybody who has participated in Katimavik, or is thinking about it. Sadly, it is now out of print, which to me, makes my copy that much more important and valuable. I first read this book before participating in Katimavik ...more
Jan 07, 2012 05:41pm · see review
Aisling gave to: How I Paid for College: A Novel of Sex, Theft, Friendship & Musical Theater by Marc Acito read in April, 2007	My rating:
This is just a really fun book. It's crazy, not entirely relatable, not particularly dramatic. It's just a fun, fluffy romp that will bring back ridiculous memories to any high school drama nerd. I first picked it up off a discount table when I was l...more
Jan 07, 2012 05:27pm · see review
Aisling is now following Haley's reviews
Jan 07, 2012 05:13pm
Aisling gave to: The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky read in February, 2011	My rating:
As this is one of the quintessential YA hipster novels, I took the opportunity to read first read this book on a Greyhound between two large cities without much in between, while listening to a collection of "indie" music that would make Charlie envi...more
Jan 07, 2012 04:49pm · see review
Aisling gave to: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro read in September, 2010	My rating:
I don't remember why I picked up this book, but I must say I wasn't impressed initially. It took me a while to get into it. Soon, though, I became completely enthralled. Mainly what I think I liked about it was its simplicity and how understated so m...more
Jan 07, 2012 03:29pm · see review
Aisling gave to: Holding Still for as Long as Possible by Zoe Whittall (Goodreads Author) read in July, 2011	My rating:
This novel was a bit difficult to get into and overall I didn't really relate to any of the characters as a whole, but rather saw bits of myself and people I knew throughout. I felt anxious the entire time I was reading it, possibly because so much o...more
Jan 07, 2012 02:13pm · see review
Aisling gave to: Sisterhood Everlasting (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, #5) by Ann Brashares read in June, 2011	My rating:
I know that life is hard and a lot can change in a 10 years and whatnot, but... I did not like this book. I was very excited to see what my favourite characters from the Sisterhood were up to, at first. And I'd like to think I went into it with an op...more
Jan 07, 2012 02:13pm · see review

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