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
In the Wake by Nicola Davison
"Memory plays tricks. Memory is another word for story, and nothing is more unreliable." -- Ann-Marie MacDonald, Fall on Your Knees Emily and Daniel have moved back home to Nova Scotia, with their 3-year-old son Ryan, after living in Alberta for ten years. Emily is excited to be back by the ocean, but it also … Continue reading In the Wake by Nicola Davison
Shadow Giller: Songs for the Cold of Heart by Eric DuPont, translated by Peter McCambridge
Songs for the Cold of Heart is a big book. It took me over a week to read it. But I loved every minute of it. What a ride. Louis "the Horse" Lamontagne from Riviére-du-Loup Quebec, and his daughter Madeleine, are at the heart of this story. However, there are so many other wonderful characters … Continue reading Shadow Giller: Songs for the Cold of Heart by Eric DuPont, translated by Peter McCambridge
A Circle on the Surface by Carol Bruneau
As with Genevieve Graham's novel, Come From Away, A Circle on the Surface is inspired by the rumours of German U-Boat sailors coming ashore along Canada's east coast during the Second World War. The heart of the novel, of course, is not about German soldiers, but of a marriage and how it is impacted by … Continue reading A Circle on the Surface by Carol Bruneau
Two From the Giller Longlist: “Split Tooth” and “Vi”
Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq What a physically beautiful book this is, with its white jacket and red edging. I hate to take it back to the library. There are snippets of beauty between the covers, too - but like the long bright summer days and the cold dark winters of the north, the moments … Continue reading Two From the Giller Longlist: “Split Tooth” and “Vi”
Land Mammals and Sea Creatures by Jen Neale
As with The Luminous Sea, the cover of this lured me right in. Covers with sea creatures on them always catch my eye, so when I saw this book on the "new book" shelf at the library, I grabbed it. The first thing I noticed when flipping through the book is that all the chapters are … Continue reading Land Mammals and Sea Creatures by Jen Neale
2018 Scotiabank Giller Prize Shortlist
The Giller Prize shortlist is out! The Shadow Jury will be reading and reviewing these books over the course of the next 6 weeks, and will be choosing a shadow winner a few days before the official Giller Prize announcement on November 19th. Patrick deWitt for his novel French Exit, published by House of Anansi Press My Thoughts: I'm looking forward to … Continue reading 2018 Scotiabank Giller Prize Shortlist
Margaret Atwood Reading Month: November 2018 #MARM
Of course it started with a conversation. We were chatting about Margaret Atwood’s books - the ones we haven’t read yet and the ones we want to reread - and it quickly became clear that we could spend a year at this. Why not start with a month? So, here is Margaret Atwood Reading Month: … Continue reading Margaret Atwood Reading Month: November 2018 #MARM
#LiteraryWives: An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Literary Wives is an on-line book group that examines the meaning and role of wife in different books. Every other month, 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 of Literary Wives … Continue reading #LiteraryWives: An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Consumed by Ink 