As MacLeod has proven before in his stories, he does not shy away from the harsh realities of life. And, as Marcie has already pointed out, Winter Dog is not an easy story to read. But there are so many great reasons you should read it anyway. Like the tender telling of the excited children … Continue reading Alistair MacLeod Short Story: Winter Dog (1981)
Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin This book reminded me of an Ottessa Moshfegh book, except Gilda is more endearing than Moshfegh's characters. Described on the front cover as "the bumbling, anxious, helplessly kindhearted heroine we all need right now," Gilda suffers from anxiety and depression and is well known … Continue reading From the Library: Emily Austen, Richard Levangie, and Julie Pellisier-Lush
I imagine it would be hard to write an engaging and humorous memoir about dementia--an illness so devastating--but that's exactly what Martha Vowles managed to do. I enjoyed every sentence. I'm not completely surprised that I loved this book - she had both a brilliant publisher and editor. At the age of fifty-five, I became … Continue reading Senior Management by Martha Vowles
Breakwater Books is an amazing independent publisher located in St. John's, Newfoundland. They have sent me so many wonderful books over the years: Dirty Birds by Morgan MurrayMelt by Heidi WicksAlmost Feral by Gemma HickeyEven Weirder Than Before by Susie TaylorThe Luminous Sea by Melissa Barbeau Ledger of the Open Hand by Leslie VryenhoekSome People's … Continue reading From Breakwater Books: Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, Italy, England, sisters, shipwrecks, and yoga
This is a novel made up of stories highlighting different stages of a woman's life. I loved this book for the structure, the humour, and the character's flaws. Not to mention the Halifax setting - as you know, I always appreciate a local setting. There is an incident that takes place early on in Nina's … Continue reading The Most Precious Substance on Earth by Shashi Bhat
The first two of these books are Atlantic Canadian, written by women in the last couple of years, and reminded me of two of my favourite childhood characters. The third is American, written by a man over 60 years ago, and reminds me of nothing I've read before. New Girl in Little Cove by Damhnait … Continue reading From the Library: Anne Shirley, Mary Poppins, and a very smart mouse
"Highlights of 2021" might seem like an oxymoron, but when it comes to books there was so much goodness for me last year. I broke my personal reading record, even if I don't count the audiobooks I listened to. This surprised me, because I have a tighter schedule this year and had to do some … Continue reading Highlights of 2021
Lauren B. Davis is one of my favourite authors; she consistently challenges and engages me with her books, and her latest is no exception. Even So explores the "challenge and necessity of loving difficult people," something we can all relate to. As Lauren says in the introduction to her novel, "it's relatively easy to love … Continue reading Even So by Lauren B. Davis
In which I talk about the final installment of Andre Alexis' Quincunx, the final Giller shortlisted book, the latest from a prolific Nova Scotian author, and the debut of another. Ring by Andre Alexis I think many Andre Alexis fans have been anxiously awaiting the fifth book in his Quincunx. On the other hand, I … Continue reading From the Library: Love, Letters, and Listeners
There are spoilers ahead, but this short Christmas story doesn't need to be 'unspoiled' to enjoy over and over. The narrator of To Every Thing There Is a Season is looking back at the Christmas he was a boy of eleven. Christmas is a time of both past and present and often the two are … Continue reading Alistair MacLeod Short Story: To Every Thing There Is A Season (1977)
Consumed by Ink 