Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin This book reminded me of an Ottessa Moshfegh book, except Gilda is more endearing than Moshfegh's characters. Described on the front cover as "the bumbling, anxious, helplessly kindhearted heroine we all need right now," Gilda suffers from anxiety and depression and is well known … Continue reading From the Library: Emily Austen, Richard Levangie, and Julie Pellisier-Lush
With an interviewer at the Quill & Quire, Alix Ohlin talks about how most of her stories and writing come about organically - without a lot of outlining. However, when beginning this book she knew she wanted to write a love story between two sisters. And she knew she wanted to address “questions of identity connected … Continue reading Giller Shortlist: Dual Citizens by Alix Ohlin
My Camino by Patrick Warner A few years ago I read Patrick Warner's One Hit Wonders and said: "One Hit Wonders is such a unique reading experience that I wanted more." I got what I asked for - another unique reading experience - one that is darkly humorous, bold, challenging, and visceral. This book is … Continue reading ‘My Camino’ by Patrick Warner and ‘Dream Sequence’ by Adam Foulds
Three stories, three women, three different places and times. It's 2010 Hamilton Ontario, and Rudie spends her day in a frenzy, getting ready for the most important event of her life - she is going to finally meet her daughter Roselore. Rudie and her husband Leo have adopted a girl from Haiti, and as a … Continue reading With My Back to the World by Sally Cooper
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
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
I have a good friend who likes to hook rugs. Years ago, when I first learned about her hobby, I thought it was pretty cool and enormously envied the rugs she had up all over her house (I still do). I suddenly wished to be a rug hooker, but realistically knew that I just wanted … Continue reading Nova Scotia Rug Hooker, Laura Kenney
I read Christian Kiefer's The Animals last year and loved it. So, I was happy to be sent a copy of his new novella. I didn't expect it to be just like his previous work, but I also wasn't expecting it to be so completely different. In fact, it's completely different from anything I have … Continue reading One Day Soon Time Will Have No Place Left To Hide by Christian Kiefer
Consumed by Ink 