Bone and Bread: A dramatic tale that leaves this reader feeling thankful

Morning North7:12Canada Reads - Bone and Bread by Saleema Nawaz - local analysis

Marley Lauro is the emerging technology librarian at the Greater Sudbury Public Library. She one of five people from the library asked to read one of the books in this year's Canada Reads competition. She read Bone and Bread by Saleema Nawaz.

Canada Reads 2016 is all about starting over. All five books in this annual CBC book contest centre on themes of transformation and second chances; stories about people choosing — or being forced to choose — a dramatically different course in life.

Marley Lauro, an emerging technology librarian with the Greater Sudbury Public Library, read Bone and Bread by Saleema Nawaz and offers her thoughts:

"This is very un-librarian of me, but I loved the cover. Also, when I read that the sisters in the book lived above a Montreal Bagel shop I was sold. That's the Canadian Dream!

I am a sister and the only person I've felt unconditional love for is my sister. When I read the book, I can feel the love that Beena and Sadhana have for one another. Even though the book has so much sadness, I love their relationship.

I really admire Beena. She lost her parents and her sister. That really spoke to me because it's something I couldn't imagine, or don't want to imagine. I gave my own sister a big hug the first time I saw her after reading the book.

[Unlike Beena's life], my life has been very easy. For a couple of years after university I worked at a coffee shop. It was a great job, but I knew I wanted more. So I decided to go back to school. This meant moving to a new city where I knew no one. It turned out great though. I had a wonderful time. It's not dramatic at all, but I prefer it that way."