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I am not cynical and let books entertain me by being what they are. However when I reached a part, soon, where it is clear captain Eli's ghost gets a narrative: I thought "Oh no, this is not going to be about the high atmosphere of discovering that ghosts exists". This is what I look for when I purchase paranormal fiction and I am disappointed. However: it is time to see how I enjoy what it is instead.

I knew I would like this biography about an immensely local personage, from the Japanese portion of our city's culture that I don't know. However this book was not about declaring "See how great this guy was. Let's learn to be like him". It is, interspersed by Yoshimaru's happy hobbies and talents all the way: an important record of negative 1940s wartime history, in British Columbia. I've learned a great deal.

I have an autographed copy by all three authors. Although this biography is largely Japanese and then starts in British Columbia; it is very strongly a history of Manitoba. We have more nations than we can count so it is a pleasure to learn about this culture's origins in our home province. Like in no other history: I know the streets, places, people, weather, landscape, and flavour this book is referring to!

All this novel is missing is a little splash in the way it is told to engage us three-dimensionally, that a traditional publisher's team might offer. Michael Richan should have a contract because his ideas are unique and abundant as his metaphorical river. He is great at not straying from the good parts. A little filler would be all right but we zoom from useful scene to important scene. I'm near the end already!

I think feeling that dialogue isn't three-dimensional and sparking to life is the product of dictacting a story, instead of putting readers into it. The dictation, the "telling instead of showing", is not too bad because Michael's story is nearly all comprised of dialogue. Perhaps this stiffness and flatness wears off as he gained momentum. He published many more volumes, with good ideas. Editing errors are few.

I am enjoying this. As a first novel it is a good signal for the numerous others. The dialogue isn't stiltled but feels like Michael was conscientious of writing it out. It doesn't spark with life, tipping the hand that this might be a self-published oeuvre. However if so, a self-publication done very well in every other way. I am compelled. "The Bank Of The River" is suspenseful, with a refreshing originality.

I blew through this in a night, aftering being one of the pioneering items of my Amazon.ca wish list, since March 29, 2006! Aversion to 5-star enjoyment, is starting with the subject of sexual assault. Especially, when the book opened, we didn't know what Richard meant by "surveillance tape". Police? Home security? Gradually we find he and the new tenants, his friends, conducted formal paranormal investigations!

I have had this on my Amazon Canada wish list since March 29, 2006: one of its first requests! It migrated to such a far back page that I brought a few of these to the front on an impulse after I had revisited them. It says something about being certain about what I like and where I reliably invest my interest, that I find myself reading even more modern releases of material like this ten years hence.

It is understandable April second-guesses her marriage although I'm glad that topic dwindles into the background. I refute criticism about not focusing on her task. Did we choose this book to observe a furniture inventory, or aren't we keen to learn about Marthe De Florian? Stories aren't about matching reality step by step! Critique that April "obsesses" over Marthe? Caring for Marthe gives this book its heart!

This exemplifies why people's feedback holds no truck. I only read it if uncertain about buying literature based on a synopsis. I seldom agree with anyone's assessments. It does not seem most people simply let authors spin them a story, especially something done differently, without expectation or comparison to other books?! I wish this one did not discuss estranged marriage so much, otherwise I am enjoying this.

I can't believe the reviewers bitching about this novel's progagonist "getting caught up in diaries, instead of conducting her furniture assessment". They have to be kidding! NOT to be enthralled by 1891 diaries while they are accessible is inhuman. Interest can also be looked at as caring about a project's background! If only everyone we hired were swept away by each job and didn't regard us as "another client".

I am enjoying this story thoroughly now. I missed a couple of nights by falling asleep. An aspect occasionally found in well-rounded novels, that I love best, is when a seemingly uncomfortable personage like the town's picky preaching type, reveals a very likeable side. Harry cared for her despite overbearningness; everyone stayed courteous. When prevailed upon for aid and expertise, Miranda becomes a co-sleuth!

I am further, along having hit that stride where I am enjoying myself. This is one you must allow to sweep you away after it is primed. Be patient during several chapters of townspeople coming in & out of the postoffice Harry and her pets run daily, in Virginia of 1990. We need to know this town and chapters are short. Now I am enthralled. I see Susan Wittig Albert was not first by far, to narrate animal heroes.

I had a very nice birthday week-end! I am continuing with a novel I am up in the air about. Most introductions are heavy whirlwinds of detail no matter the genre but I'm undaunted if something doesn't engross me right away; a mistake many make I am convinced: a fast-food mentality. LOL! I can usually tell I love a character or author's writing right away but there are three heroes and unique narrators' voices.

My birthday week-end is happily skipping along! Michael's smart metaphors are a sure way to keep me smiling. Oh my goodness, am I spotting an Evening Grosbeak atop a tree, out there in this winter's new snow? I haven't seen them since summer! I had better put out their feeder. This is a gift, seeing new bird friends special to our region! Pine Grosbeaks have been arriving as well. Unique birds make winter fun.

It is my day to read whatever I wish: things that are exciting or positive! Happy birthday to me today: that's Carolyn! :)

It took a long time to own this début novel, spotted at a September charity after owning several works by Rita Mae Brown for years. I miss those days like 1990 when people would send mail like postcards. I still do. What I love in November in particular are birthday cards! One day until my birthday!

My birthday is in three days! That is why I am reading happy books and content I think I will love best! Yours truly, Carolyn in the still warm November prairies.

I know who my favourite authors are but still feel a surprised skip in my heart, when I plainly love their work enough to keep forging ahead heedless of time. There is no place to stop a Simone St. James book. She has composed a captivating oeuvre again, different from others including her own! In Canada we call it "a hat trick" if a player scores three goals in the same game. You have scored a hat trick, Simone!

For my birthday month, I want to read whatever I like best! I have savoured this book several months; long enough. Simone St. James is my new favourite authoress and she actually autographed and mailed this to me last winter, after I touched her with an enthusiastic letter about how glad I was to find her as an adult ghost story writer! It means a lot to finally open these pages with her note to me and bookmarks.