Nova Scotia celebrates Heritage Day in February, on the same day that many other provinces in Canada celebrate Family Day. ( Here's a quick guide to the provincial differences.) I immediately became fascinated with this year's nominee - Mona Parsons - how could I not have heard of this remarkable woman before? Conveniently, there was … Continue reading Nova Scotia Heritage Day: Mona Parsons
In the Fall: A Short Story by Alistair MacLeod
Not long after writing about Alistair MacLeod's short story, The Boat, I started hearing about plans for making In the Fall into a short film, which you can read about here and here. It's going to be a beautiful film if they can capture the atmosphere from the story, but boy is it going to … Continue reading In the Fall: A Short Story by Alistair MacLeod
You Are Among Monsters by Jon R. Flieger
You Are Among Monsters came to me in the mail a few weeks ago, and although it was the first I'd heard of it, I ended up racing through it in two days. Thank you, Palimpsest Press! What made this book so compelling (and fun to read)? 1) The creep factor was huge. Not only does … Continue reading You Are Among Monsters by Jon R. Flieger
The End of Music by Jamie Fitzpatrick
I read The End of Music shortly after reading Most Anything You Please. Both are set in Newfoundland, both involve music as an important part of the characters' stories, and both are set (at least partly) during the war and post-war years. They share many similarities, yet are very different. Where Most Anything You Please … Continue reading The End of Music by Jamie Fitzpatrick
Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong
After reading The Pursuit of Memory by Joseph Jebelli, a nonfiction title about the research and treatment development of Alzheimer's Disease, I wanted to find a good novel to go with it. What luck for me that Rachel Khong's delightful Goodbye, Vitamin came out last year. (It is also on the 2018 Tournament of Books shortlist.) Ruth … Continue reading Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong
Survival: ‘Touch’ by Alexi Zentner and ‘Castle of Water’ by Dane Huckelbridge
Touch by Alexi Zentner I read Touch for my A-Z CanLit Project, thinking it was my last book. But I missed "Y", so I still have one more to go... which I'm hoping will be Effigy by Alissa York. Touch turned out to be more unusual than I was expecting. I was drawn to the "three generations … Continue reading Survival: ‘Touch’ by Alexi Zentner and ‘Castle of Water’ by Dane Huckelbridge
Rock Paper Sex: The Oldest Profession in Canada’s Oldest City by Kerri Cull
Here's what I got out of this book: Sex workers are everywhere, there are so many more than I would ever have thought, they come in all shapes and sizes and ages and genders, they could be anyone (maybe someone you know or work with). There is no one truth about sex work or the … Continue reading Rock Paper Sex: The Oldest Profession in Canada’s Oldest City by Kerri Cull
Most Anything You Please by Trudy J. Morgan-Cole
This multi-generational story about women in Newfoundland was a joy to read. The setting The story is set in Rabbittown, St. John's, and is told through the eyes of the three central Holloway women; Ellen, Audrey and Rachel. In 1936, when Ellen's family was still young, she opened up a corner grocery store below the living … Continue reading Most Anything You Please by Trudy J. Morgan-Cole
#LiteraryWives: The Blazing World by Siri Hustvedt
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 … Continue reading #LiteraryWives: The Blazing World by Siri Hustvedt
In Pursuit of Memory: The Fight Against Alzheimer’s by Joseph Jebelli
I have Rebecca at Bookish Beck to thank for bringing this book to my attention. I read about it on her Top 10 Nonfiction Reads of 2017. I knew Alzheimer's was somewhat mysterious, but I had no idea it was so interesting. Jebelli covers all the bases in this up-to-date book; the original discovery of … Continue reading In Pursuit of Memory: The Fight Against Alzheimer’s by Joseph Jebelli
Consumed by Ink 