When I saw this book at the library and read that it was about a "grotesque fat woman getting larger every day", I immediately thought of Melanie's quest for fat-positive books which prompted me to bring this one home and read it. I have to admit that, from the blurb on the back of the … Continue reading Mile End by Lise Tremblay, translated by Gail Scott
Category: Canadian Lit
Blood Fable by Oisín Curran
Just in time, I have read the third of the three nominated books for the Thomas Raddall Atlantic Fiction Award, which will be awarded at the Atlantic Book Awards on the evening of May 10 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. And what an unusual and intriguing book it is. Blood Fable tells a story within a … Continue reading Blood Fable by Oisín Curran
Atlantic Canadian Short Stories: Brennan, Skibsrud, and Crocker
A Certain Grace by Binnie Brennan A couple of years ago I read Binnie Brennan's novella Harbour View and loved it so much I was destined to go on to read her collection of short stories. It's hard to compete with Harbour View, but A Certain Grace is also a joy to read. A nice mix … Continue reading Atlantic Canadian Short Stories: Brennan, Skibsrud, and Crocker
The Figgs by Ali Bryan
I don't know what it is about this book that I loved so much. Maybe the fact that I am coming up to the stage of life that June and Randy are at and can imagine how it might be. Maybe because of the perfect imperfections of the characters. Maybe the bang-on dynamics between the … Continue reading The Figgs by Ali Bryan
Refugees: ‘The Boat People’ by Sharon Bala and ‘Homes’ by Abu Bakr al Rabeeah with Winnie Yeung
I usually opt for fiction to gain understanding and empathy for topics that are far from my own experience, but sometimes I come across works of nonfiction that are just as moving. I found Homes to be especially powerful, perhaps because the story is told from the perspective of the boy who lived it. In 2010, … Continue reading Refugees: ‘The Boat People’ by Sharon Bala and ‘Homes’ by Abu Bakr al Rabeeah with Winnie Yeung
Poetry Month: The Bookmarked Poetry on the CanLit Trail
Several of the Bookmarks on the CanLit Trail are from poems, and since it's April I thought it was a good time to read them. I will also be able to check all of these off the list in one go! "Mexican Sunsets" by Bronwen Wallace, from her collection Common Magic Bookmarked at the corner … Continue reading Poetry Month: The Bookmarked Poetry on the CanLit Trail
In Search of the Perfect Singing Flamingo by Claire Tacon
Immediately intrigued by the title of this book, I read the premise only to be more intrigued. In Search of the Perfect Singing Flamingo includes a character with Williams syndrome. A few years ago, I met someone with Williams syndrome, and at the time, it was the first I'd heard of it , despite the … Continue reading In Search of the Perfect Singing Flamingo by Claire Tacon
Project Bookmark Canada: The City Still Breathing by Matthew Heiti
The 20th Bookmark on the CanLit Trail is going to be from The City Still Breathing by Matthew Heiti. It will be unveiled on May 3, 2018 at 4pm at the Townehouse Tavern in Sudbury, and will be the first Bookmark in Northern Ontario. If you're in the area, be sure to check it out! … Continue reading Project Bookmark Canada: The City Still Breathing by Matthew Heiti
Adjacentland by Rabindranath Maharaj: A Navigation Guide
The most unreliable thing in our possession is our memory. And yet we invest so much trust in it. This book is crazy. Really crazy. A man wakes up in a room. He doesn't remember anything about himself. He doesn't know why he's there. He runs into other characters who seem to be talking nothing … Continue reading Adjacentland by Rabindranath Maharaj: A Navigation Guide
Canada Reads 2018: Mini Reviews
Canada Reads 2018 starts Monday, March 26, and continues to the 29th. This year's theme: One book to open your eyes. The longlist seemed particularly strong to me this year, and I would like to have read them all. Unfortunately, because of time and availability, I'm struggling to get the 5 from the shortlist read. … Continue reading Canada Reads 2018: Mini Reviews
Consumed by Ink 