ENTITLED by Cookie Boyle

I had my very own library at the age of five, and as you might guess, after several decades and hundreds and hundreds (and hundreds) of books that have intrigued, fascinated, and captivated me, there are a special few that stand out for having the whole package. These are the books that speak to your heart, your intellect, your sense of humour and whimsy, and Entitled, by Cookie Boyle, speaks to all of these with great wit and aplomb.

Narrated by the main character, “Book,” Entitled weaves a cleverly funny story of “Book’s” journey as it is read, loaned, forgotten or sold as it passes from reader to reader, some of whom travel to places such as San Francisco, Paris, London, and New York, and eventually to the place where it all began. What sets this story apart is the idea behind Entitled, which is skillfully executed by Boyle’s delightful imagination, smart writing, and razor-edged humour. For, unbeknown to the “Humans” that populate the story, the books are able to talk to each other, and the conversations between the various genres are ingenious, fostering a deep appreciation for Boyle’s shrewd talent.

For instance, the Call It Like You See It title does exactly that, telling Sundown At Saddle Rock, “the closest you’ve been to a ranch is that bottle of salad dressing they use here.”

When Book is placed by its owner Esmé on top of Francois Dans La Rue, a French book of street poetry, the plot, so to speak, thickens.

So when Francois tells Book its pages are beautiful, Book “can feel heat spreading from my spine.”

Their relationship, however, is merely a single chapter for Book, who is mammothly disappointed to hear that Francois is a serialized flirt.

Boyle also deals with situational humour with apt relevance.

When Book, whose title is Serendipity of Snow, is going through the scanner at the airport on its way to Paris, and asks:

 “Why do Humans need to x-ray a Book?”

An unnamed title responds: “They must be afraid of sub-text.”

In Entitled, Boyle not only charms readers to suspend belief and take a flight of fancy with her, she also fully enthralls and entertains them. And if you’re a book lover, you will be enchanted by the bookish destinations, such as Paris’ famous Shakespeare and Company Bookstore, that Boyle introduces.

Clever, unique, and downright funny, Entitled is the kind of book you’ll want to share with friends because you’ll be savouring its story long after the last page is turned.

Cookie Boyle will be joining Cece and Jen of Creative Aging Books & Ideas, Tuesday, June 9 at 2 p.m.