Open & Shut: Why America has Barack Obama, and Canada has Stephen Harper by John Ibbitson

John Ibbitson should be commended for writing this book. I say this despite not agreeing with all of his arguments, which at times are contradictory. The point of this work, however, is not to make the reader agree with everything that Ibbitson says, but rather to start a conversation on a new approach to Canada-U.S. relations, and for that he deserves well-earned kudos.

In a nutshell, this book makes a convincing case that a person like Barack Obama could never become Prime Minister of Canada, due to the closed nature of Canada's political parties. It also puts forward a convincing argument that Canadian politics is overwhelmingly dominated by white males, despite our multicultural society. This is in sharp contrast to the U.S., where minorities wield a lot more political power. After making these very important points, Ibbitson counsels Canadians to get-over our inherent anti-U.S. smugness, and to be open to the possibility that we could learn some things about improving democracy from the United States.

On the negative side, however, this book contains some flaws. More specifically, on more than a few occasions, Ibbitson puts forward two different arguments which, on reflection, contradict each other. For instance, Ibbitson warns that Obama's environmental policies could hurt the Canadian economy as it could reduce production in the Alberta oil sands. (This leaves the reader with the impression that Ibbitson favours the development of the oil sands). Later in the book, however, he goes on to argue that Ottawa should participate in a cap-and-trade system with the U.S., even though this would also hurt oil sands production. (This second argument seems to favour the environment over short-term economic gain). At no point, however, does Ibbitson provide a clear answer to the question of how much oil sands production -- if any -- should be allowed, while balancing environmental concerns.

Despite these inner inconsistencies, however, this book is a fascinating read that will make Canadians rethink their relationship with the Unites States. In short, this is a well-written work that is well worth reading.

3 out of 5 stars

Obama: The Historic Journey by The New York Times

This book contains beautiful photographs but not much else. Purporting to be an in-depth look at the election of President Obama, this special collection is in reality a mishmash of previously published columns in the New York Times, snippets of news stories from Times' reporters, and -- in an annoying twist -- declarations on why the NYT's election coverage was so fantastic.

If you want a coffee table book with gorgeous photography, then this could be for you (though you would not be missing much if you skipped over the text). If you are looking for insight, however, then you would be better off taking a pass on this book.

1 1/2 out of 5 stars

Dark Days by Kerry Pither

This book should be read by all Canadians. Brilliantly researched and well-written, Dark Days tells the story of four men – Maher Arar, Ahmad El Maati, Abdullah Almalki and Muayyed Nureddin – who were detained in Syria, and then tortured, after being subject to investigation by Canadian police and security officials. In the case of El Maati, after spending over two months in Syria, he was transferred to Egypt where he was again tortured while being held in detention for 24 months.

Maher Arar has become a household name in Canada after a public inquiry found that he was falsely accused of being involved in terrorism. According to a report released in 2006 by Justice Dennis O'Connor, who headed an inquiry into Arar’s case, the RCMP passed on information to U.S. authorities that was, “inaccurate, portrayed him in an unfairly negative fashion and overstated his importance in the RCMP investigation.” This information, the report concluded, “very likely” led to the arrest of Arar at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York in September 2002, before being deported to Jordan, and then Syria, where he was repeatedly tortured. The Government of Canada later apologized to Arar and compensated him with more than $10 million.

The Arar story by itself is outrageous. But what is even more horrific is that at least three other men were detained overseas and subject to torture. A report released in 2008 by former Supreme Court of Canada justice Frank Iacobucci, who headed an inquiry into the men’s detention, concluded that the three men were tortured. The report also concluded that:

* The actions of the RCMP and CSIS indirectly led to the torture of El Maati;

* "Two actions of the RCMP" indirectly led to the torture of Almalki; and

* Certain instances of information sharing by CSIS and RCMP officials indirectly led to the torture of Nureddin.

In June 2009, the House of Commons public safety committee recommended that Canada formally apologize and compensate the three men.

5 out of 5 stars

Off the Wall: Graffiti for the Soul, Collected by Ernie J. Zelinski

A quirky collection of graffiti scrawls taken from bathrooms, workplaces, universities and other public places. Among some of the funnier quotes are:

* The only thing that my mother and father ever colloborated on was me.

* All the women complaining about how hard it is to find a husband obviously have never had one.

* Modern art is buying a painting to cover a hole in the wall and then deciding that the hole looks better.

* Flies spead disease. Keep yours zipped.

3 out of 5 stars

The Traveler (Fourth Realm Trilogy, Book 1) by John Twelve Hawks

This novel is like the Matrix movie trilogy: A brilliant plot line that grips its audience from the beginning, only to lose steam, and then wither away into a typical action thriller.

The book begins with a wonderful story of the epic struggle between the "Travelers" and the "Tabula". The Travelers refer to a series of people throughout history who have been able to project their life essence into other realms, and in the process gaining a perspective of life that fosters revolutionary ferment on Earth. The Tabula, on the other hand, are a secret group who want to kill the Travelers, in order to impose complete control on the human race. Caught in the middle of this struggle are a group of warriors known as Harlequins, who are sworn to defend the travelers.

The first-half of this novel (the first book of The Fourth Realm series) is a wonderful page turner that contains excellent writing. Unfortunately for the reader, however, the second-half of the book descends into a ho-hum action chase, that undermines the wonderful plot line. I still plan to read the rest of this series, but I hope that the following books are more Matrix I then Matrix II or III.

2 1/2 out of 5 stars

A Long Time Coming by Evan Thomas

This is an in depth account of the 2008 U.S. presidential election, aided by the reporting of the staff of Newsweek. For those who followed last year's campaign closely, there isn't a lot of new material here that hasn't been reported elsewhere. This being said, there are some funny vignettes, such as Joe Biden saying, "Who's Palin?" when first told that John McCain had picked Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate.

Though this book doesn't provide many new insights, it is well writen, and also does an excellent job of describing the Democratic and Republican primary campaigns, and then the general election. Overall, this is an interesting read for political junkies who are intersted in U.S. politics.

3 out of 5 stars

American Widow by Alissa Torres

This graphic novel tells the story of Alissa Torres, whose husband Eddie started working in the World Trade Center on September 10, 2001, only to be killed the following day in the terrorist attacks. Pregnant and widowed, American Widow recounts how Alissa learned to deal with her loss, and then after giving birth to her son Joshua raising him as a single mother.

With beautiful illustrations and melancholy storyline, this haunting book captures the chaos and tragedy that engrossed New York City in the days and months following the attack, as well as the personal tragedy of those who lost family and / or friends on that fateful day that saw thousands of people killed. It also describes the ensuing financial and legal fight that many of the victims families were forced to launch, as they struggled to receive the monetary assistance that they were promised.

3 out of 5 stars

The Fate of Mice by Susan Palwick

Every once in a while you discover a writer that simply blows you away. Susan Palwick is one such author.

In this fantastic collection of short stories, the reader is introduced to a series of fascinating characters. For instance, there is Rodney, an IQ-enhanced mouse, who becomes self-aware and is forced to confront his own mortality. Then there are the victims of a terrorist attack, who are revived for a day so they can remind the living that they should cherish life. In another story, we meet a girl who discovers that her mother is a captured snow-maiden. And then there is the tragic love story involving a female werewolf, and another tale that recounts how a young boy deals with his father's suicide.

This collection of short stories is simply fantastic, and I will definitely pick up Palwick's novels to read. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in first-rate fiction.

4 out of 5 stars

Always a Body to Trade by K. C. Constantine

An unidentified young woman is found murdered by the police. Without any leads to work with, Chief Mario Balzic begins his search to find the killer of the nameless Jane Doe. But what starts as a mysterious murder soon turns into a sordid tale of police corruption, coupled with a power struggle between the police chief and the newly-elected Mayor, whose naive morality clashes with the reality of detective work.

In this installment of the Mario Balzic series, K.C. Constantine presents once again his brilliant dialogue and his frank, no-nonsense portrait of blue collar United States. The book is especially adept at portraying the overt racism of the late-1970s, as well as the messy reality of the legal system.

Unlike with his best work, however, this novel contains some uneven characters, particularly with some of the drug dealers who appear more clownish than human. That being said, the second-half of the story is quite good, and by the end of the book the reader is reminded once again why Constantine is such a strong writer.

3 out of 5 stars

Bush at War by Bob Woodward

An intersting look at the initial reaction of the United States to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. With unparalleled access, Woodward describes how President Bush and his top officials planned the invasion of Afghanistan, in order to defeat Al Qaeda and their Taliban hosts. With great clarity, the reader is given a look into the animated debates between Secretary of State Powel and Vice-President Cheney, the moral certainty of President Bush, and the hardheadedness of Defence Secretary Rumsfield, who was intent on forming a new military strategy.

Reading this book in 2009, however, seven years after it was published, one can't help but shake their head in amazement about everything that has occurred since then. It is also inevitable to ask such counter-factual questions as: What would have happened if Bush did not invade Iraq? Or, would things have turned differently if the White House had used all of their energy to reconstruct Afghanistan? Unfortunately, we will never know the answer, but at least we can imagine a parallel universe were the international goodwill that arose after September 11 was not squandered.

3 out of 5 stars

Cancer Vixen: A True Story Marisa by Acocella Marchetto

An incredible memoir about one woman's struggle against breast cancer. As a cartoonist for Glamour and the New Yorker magazine, Marisa Marchetto was a self-described, "shoe-crazy, lipstick-obsessed, wine-swilling, pasta-slurping" fashionista. But when she is diagnosed with cancer, just before her wedding no less, she is forced to confront a difficult new reality.

Incredibly, rather than letting cancer defeat her, Marchetto decides to use her artistic skills to recount her struggle. The result is a beatiful love story (she ends up marrying her fiance Silvano) that is filled with humour and wit. A definite inspiration for anyone whose life has been affected by cancer.

3 out of 5 stars

253 by Geoff Ryman

This is a brilliant book. Spanning only seven-and-a-half minutes in real time, this novel describes the lives of 253 passengers on a London Underground train from Embankment to Elephant and Castle station. Using a highly-original narrative format, Ryman recounts his tale by describing each passenger one-by-one, with each story being 253 words, while making connections among the various characters.

Among the countless people that we met are a criminal, a man who has a vision of William Blake, a madman who wants to kill his step-daughter, a pigeon, an IRA operative who is tracking the wife of an informant, a modern theater troupe that illegally busks on the train, and a love chain involving a homeless (or is he?) man who sells the Big Issue magazine.

This is the third Ryman book that I have read, and without a doubt, it reinforces why I think he is one of the best English-language novelists writing today.

4 out of 5 stars

My Life by Bill Clinton

This is an OK memoir that provides a straightforward account of Bill Clinton's Presidency. Unfortunately for the reader, however, this book doesn't offer any deep insight into the life and mind of this complicated man. Furthermore, reading this book today, one can't help but notice the striking difference between President Obama, who is renowned for his cool, cerebral manner, and the chaotic mess that was the Clinton White House.

Bill Clinton is, without a doubt, a brilliant man. It is also clear that he is extremely empathetic. But what is so regretable is that he is also haunted by demons, which it appears that even he doesn't understand. In short, this book left me with the lasting impression that it was written by a highly intelligent man who wanted to do good, but who failed to live up to his promise by shooting himself in the foot in spectacular fashion.

2 1/2 out of 5 stars

Cuba: The Morning After--Confronting Castro's Legacy by Mark Falcoff

An interesting look at contemporary Cuba that poses the $64,000 question: What will happen to the Caribbean island once Fidel Castro is gone? In this thorough work, Falcoff provides a comprehensive analysis of Cuba, and its complicated relationship with the United States. The result is an excellent study of the sole communist state in the western hemisphere.

Among other issues, this book looks at the economic structure of Cuba (with a particular focus on the sugar and tourism industries), the changing nature of Cuban immigration to the United States, and the true state of race relations and religion on the Marxist island. Despite having a strong anti-Castro bias -- is it possible to write an objective book on Cuba? -- Falcoff's work is a worthwhile read for anyone who is interested in the future of U.S.-Cuba relations.

3 out of 5 stars

The Downhill Lie: A Hacker's Return to a Ruinous Sport by Carl Hiaasen

For a long time I have wanted to pick up a Carl Hiaasen book given his reputation as an excellent -- and funny -- novelist. Unfortunately, it appears that I checked out the wrong book, for I found this story to be incredibly dull. In this sports memoir, Hiaasen recounts how he started playing golf after years away from the game. To my chagrin, this plot turned out to be as boring as it sounds. To be fair, there are flashes of brilliant humour scattered across the book, as well as interesting insights. It is also clear that Hiaasen is a strong writer. (Despite my strong dislike for this work I still intend to read his other novels). That being said, all to often I found this book to be the literary equivalent of hearing nails scratching across a blackboard. In short, if you like golf, you might appreciate this book more than I did. For the rest of us, however, this is really, really boring story.

1 1/2 out of 5 stars

What Obama Means: ...for Our Culture, Our Politics, Our Future by Jabari Asim

This book is an intriguing look at the forces that helped Barack Obama win the U.S. presidency, and on the social, political and cultural consequences of his victory.

In terms of groundwork, Asim presents a fascinating analysis of how artistic and athletic figures -- e.g. Prince, Michael Jordan, Sidney Poitier, President David Palmer in the tv show 24 -- laid the psychological foundation for the first African-American President. For by raising to the top of their respective professions, and in the process becoming a hero to millions, these cultural icons opened the imagination of the U.S. public to the possibility that the country could be led by an African-American.

Asim also discusses how the millennial generation, normally defined as being born between the early-1980s and early 2000's, is a harbinger of radical changes currently taking place in the United States. This group, who overwelmingly support Obama, is more ethnically diverse, more tolerant and more technologically astute than their elders. All of this indicates that the future United States, which will be led by President Obama, will be a dramatically different place from the U.S. of the last few decades, with its seemingly never ending loop of baby boomer culture wars and Vietnam-era grievances.

With this in mind, if I had one complaint about this book, it is that sometimes the narrative comes across as an undergraduate essay, in which a bright student tries to impress his professor by cramming as many sources as possible. This fault, however, is more than made up by Asim's deep insight into the cultural forces that helped to elect Obama, and the future that his election will usher in.

3 out of 5 stars

The Metamorphosis by Peter Kuper

This illustrated retelling of Frank Kafka's classic novella is very good. With his dark and slightly-disturbing images, Kuper -- who, among other things, pens "Spy vs Spy" for Mad magazine -- captures the tragic story of Gregor Samsa, a travelling salesman who wakes up one morning transformed into a bug.

3 out of 5 stars

A Fix Like This by K. C. Constantine

Reading K.C. Constantine is normally a joy. With sparkling dialogue, wonderful characters and ingenious plot lines, literary audiences have a true gem in the Mario Balzic detective series.

Even great writers, however, have bad days, as this book demonstrates. With a convoluted plot line and surprisingly wooden characters, this novel is, in my opinion, the weakest novel in the Mario Balzic series that I have read.

Like the other Balzic books, this novel covers such themes as racism, the frustrations of the working class and the inter-relationships of small-town Pennsylvania. We are also presented with the complicated persona that is Chief Balzic, who dedicates his life to fighting crime, while also showing terrible judgement by driving while extremely drunk.

Unlike the other Balzic novels, however, this story does not wow the reader. In fact, two-thirds into the book I was bored by this tale, which is something that has never happened to me before while reading a Constantine novel. All in all, I would still recommend the Mario Balzic series to my friends, with the definite exception of this book.

2 out of 5 stars

Che: A Graphic Biography by Spain Rodriguez

This graphic novel about the life of Che Guevara is a fun read. For those who don't know much about Guevara, or for those who want an original take on Argentina's most famous revolutionary, this comic is worth a look. This being said, readers should be aware that this biography is quite biased, and at times very simplistic. But once we remind ourselves that this is not a historical tome but rather a comic book, we can enjoy it for what it is, namely, an illustrated account of one of the most recognizable men of the 20th century.

2 1/2 of out 5 stars

The Star Beast by Robert A. Heinlein

I found this story to be mediocre. Essentially a children's book about a boy who has an alien as a pet, this tale recounts how the boy tries to save his pet. This boring premise is not helped by the cheesy dialogue and one-dimensional characters. Heinlein is, without a doubt, one of the masters of science fiction. This book, however, proves that even a literary genius can strike out with his pen.

2 out of 5 stars