However in a unique turn, she becomes almost a central character towards the last few chapters of the story, breathing new life into her family, but more importantly, the story. And for 3/4 of the book, she plays a supporting role, not appearing much unless it was one of Yoli’s flashbacks to childhood. She was by far the most interesting and multi-dimensional person that appears in this plot. Her characters are another thing that I loved about this book-more specifically, the mother of the clan, named “Lottie”. She’s also a can-lit star, winning numerous awards, and always at the top of reader’s choice lists, so it’s not just me that feels this way. She has a way of spinning humor into the darkest moments of her books, but not in a disingenuous way, it always seems fitting for the situation. So why did I like this book so much? Toews (pronounced ‘Tayves’) is such a good writer, she could be describing the most boring thing on earth and I would still love to read it. I picked a photo of Toews where she looks ‘extra’ Canadian

Coming from a Mennonite family that has suicide in its immediate history, Elf’s depression is not surprising to anyone else in the family, but is of course, just as devastating. No, that’s not the sad part-Elf is clinically depressed, and has made multiple, unsuccessful suicide attempts, and basically just wants to die in peace (that’s the sad part). I’ve continued this winning streak with All my Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews.Īs I mentioned above, it has a sad premise-two sisters who are extremely close: Yoli, a mother of two children with two different men and a struggling career, and Elf, a famous pianist with a doctor husband and lots of money.

Yes, this isn’t the most conducive kind of story to summertime funtime reading (these books are the antithesis to beach reads), but I’ve been quite impressed with my most recent picks. Although that may seem like a bad thing to some people, I’ve been really happy with my book choices lately. I seem to be on a roll these days with novels focusing on depressed siblings.

My puny sorrows book