Previously, I have read Genevieve Graham's Tides of Honour, which is a love story set during WWI and the Halifax Explosion. Come From Away takes place during WWII, a generation later. Danny and Audrey Baker's children are grown - their three boys away fighting in the war and their daughter, Grace, at home with them. … Continue reading Come From Away by Genevieve Graham
Tag: Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canadian Short Stories: Brennan, Skibsrud, and Crocker
A Certain Grace by Binnie Brennan A couple of years ago I read Binnie Brennan's novella Harbour View and loved it so much I was destined to go on to read her collection of short stories. It's hard to compete with Harbour View, but A Certain Grace is also a joy to read. A nice mix … Continue reading Atlantic Canadian Short Stories: Brennan, Skibsrud, and Crocker
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
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
Emily Readalong: Emily’s Quest
Contains spoilers! In The Gift of Wings, Mary Henley Rubio states that "Maud was relieved when she finished the book... It had been a chore." But you would never get that feeling while reading it. To me it felt like it was written in a whirl of headiness; it's a page-turner full of high emotions and … Continue reading Emily Readalong: Emily’s Quest
Emily Readalong: Emily of New Moon
Many people are familiar with Anne of Green Gables, but Emily of New Moon is not as well known. I'm not really sure why this is... but an article at Literary Hub suggests it's because "Anne has always wanted us to know her; Emily has never been sure." One of Anne's characteristics is that she is … Continue reading Emily Readalong: Emily of New Moon
Library Finds: ‘Nine Bells for a Man’ and ‘Victory Meat’
Nine Bells for a Man by Peter Unwin (2000) All along I thought I would read one of my Jane Urqhart books for the letter 'U' in my A-Z CanLit Project. But no, I couldn't be sensible - I had to ignore the five Urquhart novels I have on my shelf and search the library for … Continue reading Library Finds: ‘Nine Bells for a Man’ and ‘Victory Meat’
Field Notes: A City Girl’s Search for Heart and Home in Rural Nova Scotia by Sara Jewell
This book was just what I needed after my string of amazing Giller reads. Engaging, but completely different. In 2006, when Sara Jewell's marriage ended, her first thought was to go to Pugwash, a small community in Cumberland County Nova Scotia where she had spent her summers as a child. She ended up staying, and … Continue reading Field Notes: A City Girl’s Search for Heart and Home in Rural Nova Scotia by Sara Jewell
Bad Things Happen by Kris Bertin
After a moment, all he managed to say was bad things happen. It meant nothing to me, but he seemed to be satisfied with it, like that explained everything. Last month, I read two short story collections from the Giller Prize longlist. I enjoyed both of them, but also mentioned that story collections aren't usually … Continue reading Bad Things Happen by Kris Bertin
Remembrance by Alistair MacLeod
Alistair MacLeod was a Canadian novelist and short story writer. He was born in North Battleford, Saskatchewan in 1936, but moved back to Cape Breton when he was 10. He died in Windsor, Ontario in 2014. He taught English and creative writing at the University of Windsor for more than 30 years, but returned to his family's … Continue reading Remembrance by Alistair MacLeod
Consumed by Ink 