Coincidentally, I had been reading one of Margaret Atwood's poetry books when we decided to go ahead with #MARM. I'm not a big poetry reader, but I was really taken with the poems in Morning in the Burned House (1995). Particularly the ones about a woman's ageing father, and memories of their time together. From … Continue reading Margaret Atwood Reading Month: Poetry and Food #MARM
Margaret Atwood Reading Month: Children’s Books #MARM
Once I knew Marcie and I were going to go ahead with MARM, I started collecting odds and ends of Margaret Atwood books and stories, including as many of her children's books I could find through my library. Up In the Tree, written and illustrated by Margaret Atwood (1978) The first book for children Margaret Atwood … Continue reading Margaret Atwood Reading Month: Children’s Books #MARM
Margaret Atwood Reading Month: Quotations #MARM
This month, I have discovered that Margaret Atwood seems to have a wise word for just about everything. Let's have a look... Youth: "When you're young, you think everything you do is disposable. You move from now to now, crumpling time up in your hands, tossing it away. You're your own speeding car. You think you … Continue reading Margaret Atwood Reading Month: Quotations #MARM
Shadow Giller: An Ocean of Minutes by Thea Lim
An Ocean of Minutes had me in its grip. I was so invested in the outcome, I couldn't put it down. I had high hopes for it, too, when I read that it involved time travel and a flu epidemic. But how was Lim going to make her book stand out from other dystopian novels? … Continue reading Shadow Giller: An Ocean of Minutes by Thea Lim
Shadow Giller: French Exit by Patrick deWitt
Frances and Malcolm, mother and son, a wealthy pair of callous social outcasts, have just found out that all their money is gone. They have to make big changes, but neither are inclined to work for it - what will become of them? ("... her blood thrilled at life's gruesome pageant.") Frances's friend, Joan, offers … Continue reading Shadow Giller: French Exit by Patrick deWitt
Five Years of Consumed by Ink: 100 Recommended Canadian Books
When I was in my first year or two of blogging, I would marvel at the bloggers who were hitting five years plus. But now I know how fast the time goes by. In celebration of my 5th year, I've compiled a list of some of the best Canadian books I've read and reviewed on … Continue reading Five Years of Consumed by Ink: 100 Recommended Canadian Books
Shadow Giller: Motherhood by Sheila Heti
I can see why Motherhood is getting mixed reactions from readers. For one thing, the entire book takes place inside the narrator's head - so we get to hear her every thought. Hearing someone's thoughts for pages at a time can start to feel claustrophobic - a whole book that dwells almost entirely on the … Continue reading Shadow Giller: Motherhood by Sheila Heti
Margaret Atwood Reading Month: Covers Images #MARM
After much dithering, I've decided to look back on the first cover of each of Margaret Atwood's novels. There have been many different covers for her novels over the years. Let's have a look at a small sampling... The Edible Woman - McClelland & Stewart (1969), Virago (1980), Bantam (1991), Surfacing - McClelland & Stewart … Continue reading Margaret Atwood Reading Month: Covers Images #MARM
Shadow Giller: Washington Black by Esi Edugyan
Since this book first came out, I have been captivated by the octopus on the cover. What is an octopus doing on the cover of a book about an escaped slave? Well, let me tell you... It starts in Barbados in 1830, when the plantation master's brother comes to visit. "Titch" asks for the "use" … Continue reading Shadow Giller: Washington Black by Esi Edugyan
Margaret Atwood Reading Month 2018: Beginnings #MARM
Welcome to Margaret Atwood Reading Month. I'm looking forward to hearing from you, either in the comments or on your own blogs, about your first encounters with Margaret Atwood and/or her work. From what I hear, many of us here in Canada first experienced Margaret Atwood in school. Not me. I remember Alice Munro and … Continue reading Margaret Atwood Reading Month 2018: Beginnings #MARM
Consumed by Ink 