These three books took me from western, to central, to eastern Canada. And from the future, to the past, to almost the present (the 1990s). I loved them all. Greenwood by Michael Christie (Random House) I'm so happy I finally read this book. I've been wanting to read it since it came out, and have … Continue reading From the Library: the future, the past, and the 1990s
Confessions With Keith is a perfect palate cleanser to something heavy. Written as journal entries by a 40-something woman with a rocky marriage and four busy children, it reminded me of an older, more mature Bridget Jones. Vita is trying to create a writing career while raising four children, and working around a husband who … Continue reading Confessions With Keith by Pauline Holdstock
Earthquakes are not something we think a lot about here in Nova Scotia - although we do get them. Experts say we don't need to worry about something big. It's a different story on the west coast, though. That morning, the morning of the big earthquake, "Dogs stood in quivering hope at front doors, back … Continue reading The Broken Places by Frances Peck
I flew through this book by Jennifer Dance. It's very readable with wide audience appeal, about family and real family struggles. The story is told through alternating narratives. It begins with Mary as she is admitting to herself that she has Alzheimer's and is trying to write about her past before it's too late. When … Continue reading Gone But Still Here by Jennifer Dance
The Little Brudders of Misericorde is one of those unique books that I so enjoy reading. And that I'm grateful to the publisher (Tidewater Press) for sending to me--like so many other books on this blog--otherwise it might have fallen through the cracks. Spence is feeling isolated after his big move to Montreal from Vancouver, … Continue reading The Little Brudders of Misericorde by David M. Wallace
I feel like I have some pretty major loose ends to tie up - good books I read last year that I didn't end up writing about. Why am I able to get my thoughts down about some books and not others? Why do some books get pushed to the back burner while others get … Continue reading (Fabulous) Loose Ends from 2022
Finding Edward by Sheila Murray (Cormorant Books) Finding Edward is a finalist for the Governor General's Literary Award for Fiction. The two main characters in this book are Jamaican-Canadian with a 70 year age difference. Cyril grew up in Jamaica and--having just lost his mother--has recently come to Toronto to attend university. Edward was given … Continue reading From the Library: Finding Edward, Quiet Time, and Ducks
Emily Urquhart, a journalist with a doctorate in folklore, prefers the term "Wonder Tales" to "Fairy Tales". It suggests a sense of wonder while reading, rather than just the expectation of fairies or other fantastical creatures. I think we should call all stories "Wonder Tales". While reading these essays, I let Emily stoke a sense … Continue reading Ordinary Wonder Tales by Emily Urquhart
The first two of these books are published by Rare Machines, an imprint of Dundurn Press. All three feature provocative ideas such as an invisible "spy" organization, artificial intelligence, and institutions where the touch-starved can go to touch and be touched. The characters in these books--despite the books being so wildly different from each other--are … Continue reading Dundurn Press: David Whitton, Victoria Hetherington, and K.S. Covert
Unfiltered: An Irreverent History of Beer in Nova Scotia Despite the fact that most of Laffoley's books are nonfiction, until now, I have only read his novels. (The Blue Tattoo, A Halifax Christmas Carol, and Halifax Nocturne) Because I liked them so much, I was happy to give his nonfiction a try. Beer isn't really … Continue reading Steven Laffoley: irreverent histories of food and drink in Nova Scotia
Consumed by Ink 