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
If you follow the shadow jury at Kevin from Canada, you may already know that we chose two shadow winners this year - The Innocents by Michael Crummey and Reproduction by Ian Williams. I am happy to say that Ian Williams took home the Giller Prize this year for Reproduction! Congratulations to all the finalists … Continue reading 2019 Prize Lists and Prize Winners
Bunny by Mona Awad (Author of the Giller shortlisted 13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl.) Samantha attends an MFA program at a university in New England. But she feels like an outsider. The other women in her group (there are four of them) are so cliquish. They're always together, always touching and laughing … Continue reading ‘Bunny’ by Mona Awad and ‘Days by Moonlight’ by André Alexis
The theme for Canada Reads 2017 is "the one book Canadians should read now", and the debates will air on March 27 to 30. Here are the five books being debated this year, in the order of when I read them. Fifteen Dogs by André Alexis, defended by Humble the Poet, a rapper, poet and … Continue reading Canada Reads 2017 Mini Reviews
In the last two books I've read by André Alexis, there have been sheep and there have been dogs. The Hidden Keys has very few animals, but is still filled with interesting characters; a thief, an addict, a drug-dealer, a thug, an artist who stuffs deceased pets for a living, and a few billionaires. What … Continue reading The Hidden Keys by André Alexis
Update: Winner of the 2015 Scotiabank Giller Prize and Rogers Writers' Fiction Prize. Fifteen Dogs is the most creative and unique book I have read in a long time. It was funny, smart, inventive, moving, thought-provoking, and I didn't want to put it down. I had to know what was going to become of all the … Continue reading Fifteen Dogs by André Alexis
Pastoral is a finalist for the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize, along with The Confabulist by Steven Galloway, All Saints by K.D. Miller, Girl Runner by Carrie Snyder, and All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews. There are a lot of award lists out right now, but since I have already read two of these, I thought it … Continue reading Pastoral by André Alexis
Consumed by Ink 