If I Knew Then by Jann Arden "Being the age I am--that so many women are--is just the best time of my life." Jann Arden talks about aging, but she also talks about growing up, life with her parents, and her struggle with alcohol. She makes aging sound appealing, which is never a bad thing. … Continue reading What I’ve Been Listening To: aging, food, fairy tales, monkeys, comedians, and poets
Literary Wives is an on-line book group that examines the meaning and role of wife in different books. Four times a year, we post and discuss a book with this question in mind: What does this book say about wives or about the experience of being a wife? Don’t forget to check out the other members … Continue reading #LiteraryWives: I’m Fine and Neither Are You
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
This story is about 30 pages long and--plotwise--almost nothing happens. But the beauty of the story is in the seasonal rhythms and the ordinary routines of every day; the cyclical nature of a farm and the abundance of hope that year-after-year, the farm will sustain the lives of everyone involved, human and animal. SPOILER: There's … Continue reading Alistair MacLeod Short Story: Second Spring (1980)
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
For some reason I had in my head that Helen Garner would be a prim and proper writer (whatever that means). Maybe because of her age? Maybe her name? All the flower pots on the covers of her books? It just goes to show that you can't judge a writer by the impression you have … Continue reading The Spare Room by Helen Garner
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
Consumed by Ink 