Canada has a new prime minister

Mark Carney's Liberal Party has won the Canadian election and will form the next government.It was a very close race but I don't think things will change.

Darcy's Utopia by Fay Weldon

I often felt I wanted to put this novel down but somehow it kept me reading. I'm not sure quite what to say about it so I'll post this review from Kirkus Reviews. "Another act of literary terrorism from British satirist and live-wire Weldon (The Cloning of Joanna May, 1989, etc.), only this time far more wide-ranging and rabidly polemic than even before. Weldon's subject now is Eleanor Darcy, the high priestess of Darcian Monetarism, a utopian ideology aimed at saving shabby old Thatcherian England from the ills of inflation by phasing out money altogether. The theory, ostensibly the brainchild of Eleanor's second husband (now in prison because of the chaos that ensued when the economic strategy was implemented for one morning only), really came from Eleanor herself, known in the press as Rasputin's Bride. And Eleanor, being interviewed in this novel by two journalists—trim Valerie, writing for the women's rag Aura, and Hugo, of the higher-toned Independent—has thoughts of a world of topics besides money: namechanging, a practice that will be encouraged in Darcy's utopia ("My advice to everyone is to change their names at once if they're the least unhappy with their lives"); sex, the source of all good in the world; Marxism and Catholicism, both palliatives; elocution and miscegenation, two waves of the future, and much more. Piecing together hints from the evasive Eleanor, Valerie concocts a personal biography for her magazine's readers, revealing that Eleanor, born with a caul and originally named Apricot (after the shade of her mother's nightie), is a bigamist, social-climber, and witch who wrecked the lives of the men who loved her. Hugo concentrates on the theoretical, and on Valerie, who becomes his mistress. During the time they're in contact with Eleanor, the two of them leave their spouses and children and shack up together in a Holiday Inn. Once their pieces are finished, though, the affair collapses—presumably a romantic utopia, given too little time. Nonetheless, Eleanor has changed their lives, and will change others, since Hugo starts a religion dedicated to her. An ideological mine-field, with Weldon-as-Eleanor birthing a wild idea a minute. Still, some shrapnel hits home, for what Weldon seems to be saying is that desperate, possibly lunatic measures are called for if we're to transform a desperately sick world."

A lovely dinner

We had a wonderful time with Bronwen and Darryl last night. We heard all about their wonderful place in Italy and saw pictures of it. It looked great and brought back memories of our time in Italy. We just might get there again. Darryl spoiled us with an Italian themed dinner. We were very impressed with the Bayview Estates where their condo is located. They have great views of the Blue Bridge and the city lights.

A lovely lunch

We had a lovely lunch with Tim and Anne today. Great to see them.

Itty Bitty Book Review

"Democracy" by Joan Didion I think "fragmented narrative" pretty much sums it up. I just couldn't really get into it. "Joan Didion's novel "Democracy" delves into the intricate search for identity faced by Inez Christian during the tumultuous 1960s and 1970s in America. This journey reaches its conclusion in 1975, just after the final withdrawal of American troops from Vietnam and Cambodia. Through a fragmented narrative, Didion, as the story's narrator, pieces together the life of Inez, endeavoring to provide meaning to her experiences."