The Island Gospel According to Samson Grief by Steven Mayoff Samson Grief is an artist who has been living a quiet, solitary life in Prince Edward Island for almost twenty years when he is visited by three red-headed figments of his imagination. Judas, Fagin, and Shylock have come to convince Samson that he has been … Continue reading Two from Radiant Press: Steven Mayoff and Meghan Greeley write about love, loneliness, and the new Promised Land
A couple of years ago, I read my first book by this small, non-profit independent publisher across the Atlantic. It was called Unidentified Man at Left of Photo by Jeff Bursey and it was a unique reading experience. I can safely say the same about these two books. (Which is a good thing!) Apastoral: a … Continue reading Two from Corona\Samizdat: Lee D. Thompson and W.D. Clarke
Jane Doucet has become one of my favourite rom-com writers. Her books are light and funny with a spot of romance. Romance is not the focus of the novels, however - women are the focus. Women of all kinds, all ages, making their own lives, with or without men. Mothers, writers, small business owners, politicians, … Continue reading Lost & Found in Lunenburg by Jane Doucet
In my post about The Story Girl, I mentioned that LMM did not enjoy writing The Golden Road. As Sarah points out in her post "The Golden Road of Youth: #ReadingStoryGirl", The Story Girl was written when LMM was still living in PEI, but The Golden Road was written after LMM was married and had … Continue reading #ReadingStoryGirl: The Golden Road
One of the things I mentioned liking about The Story Girl in my introduction post is 'watching' the children play. Maybe because--between raising and working with children most of my life--I think a lot about how children play. Is it better now? Was it better then? Maybe somewhere in between? I feel sorry for children … Continue reading #ReadingStoryGirl: “There is such a place as fairyland – but only children can find the way to it…”
The List of Last Chances by Christina Myers (Caitlin Press) I requested this book after seeing it on a list at the 49th Shelf - one made by Ali Bryan, author of Coq and The Crow Valley Karaoke Championships. A list of "Summer books to read when your flight’s been cancelled, you dropped your phone … Continue reading From the Library: something light, something heavy, and something dark
No One Knows About Us by Bridget Canning This is Canning's third book, and first collection of short stories. I loved her novels, The Greatest Hits of Wanda Jaynes and Some People's Children, so I had high expectations for her short stories. Happily, they measured up. I didn't really have any doubts that they would. … Continue reading Two from Breakwater Books: Bridget Canning and Willow Kean
Three new novels from three established Nova Scotian authors. This is Becca Babcock's second book - I wrote about her first book here. This is Lesley Crewe's trillionth book - I wrote about her last book here. Leo McKay's debut story collection was shortlisted for the 1995 Giller Prize. I wrote about his self-published novel … Continue reading Three from Nimbus Publishing: Lesley Crewe, Leo McKay Jr., and Becca Babcock
Because we all need more to read in the month of November, Sarah Emsley and I are hosting a Readalong of The Story Girl and The Golden Road next month. What are one or two more books in your stack? The Story Girl narrates the adventures of a group of cousins and their friends in … Continue reading The Story Girl Readalong: #ReadingStoryGirl
A few months ago, I wrote about two memoirs written by Nova Scotian authors. Today, I have three more Maritimes memoirs for you - one from Nova Scotia and two from New Brunswick. Chasing Paradise by Chris Benjamin (Pottersfield Press) In May, 2001--just as I was welcoming my first baby into the world--Chris Benjamin set … Continue reading Maritime Memoirs: Chris Benjamin, Janet Coulter Sanford and Cheryl Gillespie
Consumed by Ink 