Personal Reflection

“Select a Canadian novelist”- this sentence indicated the upcoming troubles. Firstly I hate choosing. Being stuck in contemplation, I always rely upon counting-out rhyme to finally decide. Secondly my knowledge about Canadian literature did not extend far from L.M. Montgomery. Fortunately I did managed to break this tie, simply by letting my host mom to pick something out.

After quick examination of the cover, I discovered that the action takes place in Stratford. Is there a better reason for the newcomer to read it? Without any further hesitation I signed on the list that my ISU book will be “Spadework” by Timothy Findley.

Before I began the actual process of reading, I had examined again the cover and the word “murder” caught my attention. For those that don’t know me, I love criminal stories. I’ve read half of it. Every new character, every ambivalent situation was the sign of upcoming murder. All those moments of increased tension left me with sense of disappointments and conclusion that the introduction is so long that the actual solving the homicide will be really shallow and not gripping.

I don’t have to mention that the book wasn’t a crime story at all. This experience thaught me that I shouldn’t begin the reading with the list of demands about content. Instead allow the writer to take me on the journey around his own world.

The second part of this project was writing. I like to write. I don’t mind an audience. Well to be completely honest to extent that we both speak the same first language. Being unable to express some of my ideas and fearing to write awkwardly forced me to spend more time on each sentence. This slower pace allowed me to look deeper instead of describing the outer layer.

Did I learn something about Canada? No. The nature of interhuman relationships, which was the main theme, is equally complicated all around the world. This disables to distinguish any national characteristics. But I did spend a wonderful time sharing the anger, sadness and tears with the Kincard family which led to their happy end. What’s interesting without a feeling “another book without realistic ending”.