Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town by Stephen Leacock

 I almost don't want to review Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town by Stephen Leacock because I don't want to spend another minute of my life thinking about this book! It is a Canadian classic and with the new illustrated edition released, I thought it was about time I read it. However, it was not an easy read. I actually put this book down for so many months I had to reread the first 50 pages just to remember what happened. That basically never happens with me. Unfortunately, when I picked it up again finishing it was an exercise in endurance and stubbornness (I mean it's not really that long!) rather than one of reading enjoyment.

Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town tells a bunch of short stories about the people living in a little town called Mariposa. I know this book is supposed to be funny and clever, but it just didn't keep my attention at all. The characters felt like caricatures, and I didn't care about them. The illustrations weren't even a style I particularly enjoyed, and by the end I was just bitter I was still reading the book. I just did not connect at all. These are boring adventures that Leacock writes about as if they were exciting, and I know that's part of the point and appeal, but to me, they were still boring adventures. I'm sorry if it makes me a bad Canadian and I'm disappointed I was so disappointed, but I cannot see myself picking up any future Leacock books after my experience with Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town. 

Release Date: October 15th 2013 (originally 1912) Pages: 288  Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher  Publisher: McClelland & Stewart  Buy It: Book Depository