Paula Simons

Independent Senator from Alberta. (Live tweets of Senate proceedings are not to be confused with official Hansard.)

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Book Recommendations:

PS

Recommended by Paula Simons

@neumanic @yknot05 I love the book. I’m a big Agatha Christie fan. So retconning the whole Poirot back story bugs me. It’s like casting Tilda Swinton as Miss Marple. (from X)

“A top-notch literary brainteaser.” –New York Times Soon to be a major motion picture sequel to Murder on the Orient Express with a screenplay by Michael Green, directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh alongside Gal Gadot—coming February 11, 2022! Beloved detective Hercule Poirot embarks on a journey to Egypt in one of Agatha Christie’s most famous mysteries. The tranquility of a luxury cruise along the Nile was shattered by the discovery that Linnet Ridgeway had been shot through the head. She was young, stylish, and beautiful. A girl who had everything . . . until she lost her life. Hercule Poirot recalled an earlier outburst by a fellow passenger: “I’d like to put my dear little pistol against her head and just press the trigger.” Yet under the searing heat of the Egyptian sun, nothing is ever quite what it seems. A sweeping mystery of love, jealousy, and betrayal, Death on the Nile is one of Christie’s most legendary and timeless works. “Death on the Nile is perfect.” —The Guardian “One of her best. . . . First rate entertainment.” —Kirkus Reviews

PS

Recommended by Paula Simons

@katmarsch @alisonborealis The Fabulous Zed Watson - shortlisted for the GG. Great for grades 4-6. An “own stories” book by Toronto’s Basil Sylvester & their dad @kevinarts. https://t.co/ZsUbrmyiac (from X)

The Fabulous Zed Watson! book cover

by Basil Sylvester, Kevin Sylvester·You?

FINALIST FOR THE GOVERNOR GENERAL'S LITERARY AWARD FINALIST FOR THE OLA SILVER BIRCH AWARD The literary scavenger hunt of a lifetime, starring an endlessly endearing non-binary tween Zed Watson loves a few things: their name (which they chose themself!), their big rambunctious family, and—oh yeah—monsters. When Zed discovered the mystery surrounding an unpublished novel called The Monster’s Castle, they were completely hooked. Now Zed is a member of a small but dedicated legion devoted to finding the long-buried text. When a breakthrough discovery leads Zed to the route that they are sure will take them to the treasure, they know it’s time for a road trip. And with the help of their shy, flora-loving neighbour, Gabe, and his sister, Sam, a geologist who is driving back to college in Arizona, Zed and company are soon off on a wild adventure following cryptic clues. But it’s not all fun and games. Gabe doesn’t like Zed’s snacks, Sam is a bossy driver with total command of the ancient Impreza’s stereo, and Zed is often misgendered. It’s a good thing they also encounter kind strangers, potato-themed dance-offs and lots and lots of ice cream along the way. If Zed and Gabe can combine their strengths, survive Sam’s wrath and best the greedy historian who’s also hot on the book’s trail, they just might find the greatest treasure of all. Co-authored by child-parent duo Basil Sylvester and Kevin Sylvester, this is a vibrant and enormous-hearted story about friendship, identity and belonging. It features illustrations by celebrated author and illustrator Kevin Sylvester, and an Own Voices perspective based on Basil’s experience.

PS

Recommended by Paula Simons

@bluebulrush @FreewillPlayers I love Tempest-Tost. But Leaven of Malice is one of my favourite books of all time. I would actually be contrarian and argue that it is Davies’ best book, even better than Fifth Business or Rebel Angels. (from X)

Leaven of Malice book cover

by Robertson Davies·You?

Original yellow green cloth. Price clipped, with a tiny corner chip to jacket spine; else a fine copy, clean and tight. Uncommon early Davies title.