Consumption
by Kevin Patterson
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A penetrating portrait of generational divisions and cultural dissonance, this novel illuminates how the tenuous bonds of friendship, love, and family fly apart--and the unexpectedly tender ways in which survivors carry on.

I enjoyed the first part of "Consumption." Certainly the setting and subject matter are unique (for me, anyway) and the writing, so far, is agreeable. BUT, I have to say that the first sentence bothered me. I think a lot about how an author begins a novel. Every time I read a new book, I think about that first line -- how carefully it was crafted and what it will mean to the story; I think of how, perhaps, I will feel about it looking back from the last line of the book. So I read, "Storms are sex" and I am immediately turned off. It just seems like Patterson is trying to hook me with this erotic notion. Sure, it's an interesting metaphor, but I didn't feel it was developed enough afterward to justify its use. So right off the bat I was disappointed. Though I can say that the rest of the passage drew me in. I will continue reading, of course. :)

That sentence was weird and distracting. It seemed to be thrown in there with nothing to do with the rest of the first part of the book.

I'm happy to see both of you feel the same way. Great minds think alike. :)

I wonder how many of us belong to this book club.

Happy reading.

I really tried to see the symbolism but just couldn't. I'm glad to see it wasn't just me. I think the author was really trying to grab the reader with that first sentence but it almost had the opposite effect on me. I was strangely really disturbed by it. But I did go on with the read and it's okay so far.

I don't really have much to say about the first sentence. But I do love the imagery of the little girl in Winnipeg. I live in this wonderful city, only a few blocks (across the river) from the Fort Garry Hotel in fact. I loved the writing about the old Eaton's which is no longer there. It reminds me of when I first moved to this city. Nostalgia is always great.

I was hooked from the very beginning and just finished the entire book. It is a pretty heavy read...but what a great world this novel creates. I couldn't get enough of the Arctic, and was somewhat sad when the locale shifted...but I highly recommend getting this one from the library and reading it. Excellent choice!