This author explores the complex intersections of power, ethics, and society. Her writing frequently delves into moral quandaries and the ramifications of political decisions. Employing sharp intellect and keen observation, she uncovers the hidden dynamics and motivations that shape our lives. Her works prompt reflection on responsibility and integrity in the contemporary world.
The book, first released in hardcover in 1997 by Random House Canada, explores themes of identity and belonging through its richly developed characters. Set against a backdrop of cultural tension, it delves into personal struggles and societal expectations. The narrative weaves together poignant moments of introspection and vivid imagery, inviting readers to reflect on their own experiences and connections. Its engaging prose and thought-provoking content make it a compelling read for those interested in contemporary issues and human relationships.
Exploring the journey of adapting to a new culture, this book delves into the challenges and joys of life in a French priory. It highlights the complexities of assimilating Franglais-American culture, the renovation of a historic property, and the acquisition of practical skills like property buying and laundry. The narrative is enriched with humorous dinner experiences with diverse guests and an unexpected twist of becoming a local sensation through a quirky "love window." It's a relatable tale of seeking a better life amidst unforeseen obstacles.
How curious can a five-year-old really be? Frannie and Calvin are back, and even more baffled, in this hilarious and heartwarming sequel to Patricia Pearson’s critically acclaimed comic novel, Playing House .Frannie Mackenzie thought she finally had her life on track. Even though she backed into love and parenthood — getting pregnant before she even knew how to spell her lover Calvin’s last name(P-U-D-D-I-E) — the birth of baby Lester seemed to put everything in the right order at last. Ha! When her mother-in-law, Bernice, takes theatrically to her death bed and Calvin can’t deal, Frannie has to step up to the next big what to make of mortality when you’re pretty sure there’s no afterlife. And Lester, at five, knows just how to test his mother’s verbal and spiritual limits. Spotting a crucifix in a local church, Lester inquires, “What happened to that guy?”There’s certainly no lack of absolutists in Frannie’s an atheist scientist bent on disproving God, a near-death experiencer, a suburban shaman, and the whole neo-con coterie of magazine editors at The Moral Volcano who pay her salary. But when it comes down to surveying the landscape of their own beliefs, Frannie and Calvin find that a dying woman and a growing child offer the most lasting lessons on life and faith.From the Hardcover edition.
Somewhere between single girl Bridget Jones and working mother Kate Reddy is Frannie MacKenzie -- baffled, beleaguered and undeniably pregnant. The one thought blazing through Frannie’s formerly trendy, savvy, sharp-tongued New York brain is that she wants to keep this baby -- despite her ultra-small apartment and not being completely sure how to spell the father’s name. Being pregnant is so out of character: how will she break it to her boss, her mother, let alone the father, Calvin Puddie (or is it Pudhey)? Frannie’s problems multiply as she dives headlong into one hilarious complication after another: from being banned from the U.S. and marooned in Toronto, to actually falling in love with her baby’s father. “You don’t find the one, do you?” Frannie muses. “The best one, the Perfect One. You just keep running like Wil E. Coyote, until all of a sudden you’re off the cliff. You fall into your life with the man who is running beside you.” In Playing House, Patricia Pearson has written a witty, heart-touching look at falling by accident into life’s most profound commitment. She deftly captures the self-doubt, messy bodily fluids and inconceivable love that accompany being a mother, and the trepidation and joy with which two people step across the threshold of parenthood and into a realm that is at once alien and completely right. From the Hardcover edition.
