Paul Benedetti

This was a lovely collection of essays covering several years in the life of Canadian journalist Paul Benedetti. He writes about "normal" family life, about raising kids, getting older and dealing with mortality, but not much about dogs. I missed a few of the Canadian references but learnt a bit more about life in Canada, which was great. Due to the short articles, the book is perfect for dipping in and out of, which was my intention, but I actually felt so engaged and entertained by this, I ended up flying through it, reading larger chunks.
Some of the essays were very funny, others made me tear up, all of them were very relatable and readable. The pieces about mortality were very touching and encouraged reflection.
Personal note to Paul Benedetti: You so need to get your wife a dog! It'd be awesome and I believe she deserves it!
I received an ARC via NetGalley. Thank you!… (altro)

A collection of the author's columns from the Hamilton (Ontario) Spectator: life, love, families, and all their bewildering complications. Some entries are paeans to the emotional moments of family life, others are hilarious vignettes that sometimes had me crying I was laughing so hard.

While writing this series of essays, Benedetti (and his wife!) was raising and then learning to let go his 3 children, watching older family members age and pass on, and dealing with the realities of life in a middle-aged body, all with good humor and a loving eye for the foibles of those around him.

One or two essays are close variations on earlier stories and should have been edited out (how many essays can you read on the chore of buying new underwear, as funny as it can be?), but all-in-all, a delight to read.… (altro)

This is an author who is variously described as the best thinker since Newton, but acknowledged as the undisputed king of the sixties media theorists. His books tend to be various sizes and shapes but rarely fit well in a bookshelf. I sometimes wonder if it is his own determination to be a book you cannot fail to notice. I think he has made his point however and in my book shelf they tend to be put flat behind the books and don't get noticed at all. My fingers also itch to take them to the local 2nd hand bookstore.… (altro)