‘Glass Voices’ by Carol Bruneau and ‘The Memento’ by Christy Ann Conlin

February 16, 201726 Comments

Glass Voices by Carol Bruneau (2007) I read this book as part of my little unofficial Halifax Explosion fiction project, which includes other books, such as Barometer Rising by Hugh MacLennan, Black Snow by Jon Tattrie, and The Blue Tattoo by Steven Laffoley. This book made a nice compliment to the others in that it's … Continue reading ‘Glass Voices’ by Carol Bruneau and ‘The Memento’ by Christy Ann Conlin

Playing Catch-Up: Kate Evans and Beatrice MacNeil

February 9, 201717 Comments

The Inward Journey by Kate Evans (2016) Sylvia is not yet 70, but she is going blind and in a nursing home, and fighting it every step of the way. She complains about the food, the care, and refuses to try new ideas to learn how to cope with her loss of vision. In the style … Continue reading Playing Catch-Up: Kate Evans and Beatrice MacNeil

Madeleine Thien and Zoe Whittall

November 1, 201619 Comments

By a happy coincidence I read two books this summer by Giller Prize shortlisted authors, Madeleine Thien and Zoe Whittall. I chose Dogs at the Perimeter to fill the letter 'T' position for my A-Z CanLit project. And the urge to read Zoe Whittall came out of reading Buried In Print's review of The Best Kind of … Continue reading Madeleine Thien and Zoe Whittall

Shadow Giller: The Wonder by Emma Donoghue

October 20, 201653 Comments

I put off writing my review of The Wonder for a couple of weeks after reading Kim's excellent review. I couldn't see how I could add anything more. But I have taken some time to forget about what she wrote so that I can concentrate on my own notes. Fans of Emma Donoghue will surely … Continue reading Shadow Giller: The Wonder by Emma Donoghue

Willem de Kooning’s Paintbrush by Kerry Lee Powell

October 17, 2016October 18, 201626 Comments

Willem de Kooning's Paintbrush was longlisted for the Giller Prize, is a finalist for the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize, and a finalist for the Governor General's Literary Awards. So, of course I had to read it. As I have mentioned before, I prefer novels to short stories. However, short stories have their place in … Continue reading Willem de Kooning’s Paintbrush by Kerry Lee Powell