I just recently finished Jennifer Egan’s ‘A Visit from the Goon Squad’, winner of this year’s Pulitzer Prize, and was struck by how sensitive Ms. Egan is to the changing needs of today’s reader; this is literature of high quality made especially for the digital age. I’ve entertained the idea of writing a list of some of my favourite books by female authors before, and this book has inspired me to finally do it! So without further ado (and in no particular order):

1. A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan (Random House 2010)

With a storyline spanning from the eighties into the future and multiple (often unrelated) characters profiled at various “fallen from grace” scenarios in their lives, Egan uses music to connect the disparate stories, timelines and flowcharts (yes, PowerPoint makes an appearance here for about 75 pages), to much the same effect that music connects us (read: the readers) to our memories, the memories of others and different points in time. A serious page-turner, this post-post-modernist tale of alienation–but also redemption–is moving from beginning to end. Ironically, the PowerPoint section was the most emotional for me; I suspect this was Egan’s intention.

2. The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck (John Day 1931)

This story, also a Pulitzer Prize winner, opens on the marriage day of Wang Lung, a humble Chinese farmer. Wang Lung is betrothed to the selfless O-Lan, a slave who has been brought up serving in the kitchens of a rich household, and together they work the fields and experience the pastoral happiness of home, simplicity and intimacy for the first time. Wang Lung and his family endure many trials before they come upon unexpected riches; henceforth this becomes a story of loss of innocence, and of connection–the good earth is no longer enough.

3. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand (Random House 1957)

Easily the most controversial novel on this list, Rand’s magnum opus is not something you read for its prose, you read it for its ideas. This is a story about a dystopian United States where brilliant industrialists (of science, railroads, metal, lean manufacturing, you name it) as well as “people of the mind” are mysteriously going on strike to protest the parasitical and mooching behaviour of the public demanding their share of the profits. While I can’t say I fully agree with a lot of Rand’s ideas (some of them not at all!) this is a must-read, in my opinion. You’ll never hear words like “capitalism” or “mystics” the same way again.

4. The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood (McClelland and Stewart 2000)

Had to get some Margie onto this list of course–no need for her to start a fallback career in Ottawa metal roofing – I think she’s made it as a writer. I’m daring to say that this is my favourite of her (all of them are so good!) books. The story is told in three interesting ways 1)through the present 2)through the past and 3)through a strange science-fiction tale invented by one of the characters. This is a book written in the ‘Ontarian Gothic’ style and details the lives of two sisters, one of whom is forced to marry the wealthy opponent of their once-wealthy industrialist father, and the young rebel (and author of the sci-fi story) that they both adore. Mysterious and spellbinding, this is a book you won’t want to end and it may be found in this free link directory.

Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (Macmillan Publishers 1936)

It was the only novel she ever penned, but what an influence it’s had. Published in the midst of the Great Depression, this book still sold millions of copies, and within weeks everyone was talking about it. The film version was released only a few years later in 1939 to rave reviews and is still considered a favourite of many cinema buffs. Why? Although it saddens me to read racist tones spoken by some of the characters, the story itself is irresistible–a thwarted love shared between two bad apples, set amongst Civil War in America and interspersed with pages upon pages of some of the most entertaining dialogue you’ll ever read.

This was fun! I love a good read and as you know, I love sharing tips It’s my brand personality.

…searching for relevant coupons to the story (just a guilty pleasure of mine )

My friend, TorontoArtsGirl, just published a blog post about rooftop gardens in Toronto.

I started contemplating a rooftop garden of my own when I read Margaret Atwood’s ‘The Year of the Flood’ last December. A darkly funny story about a not so far away future in a society monopolized by corporations, genetic mutations and nearly destroyed by a manufactured virus, one cult called “God’s Gardeners” grew their food on rooftops. Although the novel’s world is somewhat more terrifying than the current Stephen Harper government, this idea appealed not only to the paranoid part of my brain (the part that wants to build a bomb shelter equipped with a library and Ping-pong table) but also to the practical Mennonite side as well. Just think how much sunlight a rooftop garden receives! TorontoArtsGirl’s blog post renewed my interest in this idea–I had no idea that rooftop gardens were so prevalent amongst Toronto’s finest hotels and restaurants. There are rooftop gardens on top of City Hall, the University of Toronto, ROM and Royal York Hotel, you see.

What Do You Need for a Rootop Garden?

This is the part that makes me cringe because you need a flat, water-tight rooftop…and mine is most definitely slanted. Brian and I haven’t had the roof examined for a few years, and who knows, it might be time for a replacement (I can’t believe I’m almost hoping this is the case.) I had heard that flat roof leaks are more common, but an article I read in one of Brian’s handy-manly magazines on commercial roofing informed me that, these days, you can purchase a flat roof that comes with a lifetime warranty. Flat roof repair? Forget about it! Another undeniable benefit of a flat roof is the extra space you will enjoy in the rooms at the top of your house.

Rooftops Should be Green, Or White

I also read that Switzerland has just passed a bylaw ordering all buildings to cover at least 20% of their rooftops–even existing ones. Those Swiss are an interesting, interested, culture, aren’t they? Luckily for us North Americans, we can copy the brilliant innovations in rooftop gardening the Swiss are likely to come up with as a result of their progressive bylaw.

Dr. Steven Chu, from the U.S. Department of Energy announced in November that if our rooftops and roads were white instead of heat-trapping black, it would be the equivalent of removing 11 years’ worth of car exhaust from the atmosphere.

Why Make a Rooftop Garden?

The benefits are pretty obvious. Since I cannot move to Switzerland (unless I do one of those get-rich-quick discount media buyer schemes) all I can do is educate myself and hope my roof needs replacing soon, because there’s no way Brian’s going to go for the flat roof if not. He’s been really interested in these insulated concrete forms lately…I guess it’s a new green construction/insulation technique that reduces the energy spent and chemicals released by heating and air conditioning. Should we just build a new house? Oh boy. I’m digressing, quite uselessly now, so, thank you, TorontoArtsGirl for the inspiration, coupons are below; the benefits of a rooftop gardens are as follows:

-improves air quality
-more time spent outdoors
-boosts the local food economy/movement
-delays rainwater runoff
-increases bird habitats
-increases building value, for owners and tenants
-should create more jobs in the green sector

Printable Coupons Alert: Scroll down to the bottom of my sidebar for a delectable deal!