There are 14 books on the Giller Prize longlist this year, and so far I've read ten of them. I like to try to read as many from the longlist as I can, because, as we all know, they are usually just as good as the shortlisted books. There may even be some not on … Continue reading 2022 Giller Prize Books
For the last few years I have been shadowing the Giller Prize along with other devoted CanLit fans. This year, I'm leaving all the deadlines to others, (be sure to visit Shadowing the Best of CanLit to see what Penny and Lindy and John have been up to!) but, of course, I couldn't resist them … Continue reading Scotiabank Giller Prize 2021
All I Ask by Eva Crocker Melt came to mind as I read this book - the characters in All I Ask are friends who live and work in St. John's, NL. Unlike Jess and Cait, Stacey and Viv are younger and only just starting to move from school to careers and long-term relationships. Soon … Continue reading From the Giller Longlist: All I Ask, Consent, The Pull of the Stars, Clyde Fans
After many years, and a conscious effort on Priya's part to cut ties between them, it all came flooding back when she received this message from Prakash on her new Twitter account: Hi. Write me. She doesn't want him to think there might be any reason not to, so she does. And then she goes … Continue reading #ShadowGiller: Polar Vortex by Shani Mootoo
I think most of us have heard of The Glass Hotel by now, after the huge success of Mandel's previous novel Station Eleven. That also means readers are expecting a lot from this novel, and I think Mandel was able to deliver. What a joy to experience the story and characters through her intricately woven … Continue reading #ShadowGiller: The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel
The Giller Prize shortlist was announced this morning. Between now and November 9th, the Shadow Jury will be reading and reviewing these books, as well as picking a winner in advance of the official winner. Will we be any better at predicting the winner than we were at predicting the shortlist? You can find all … Continue reading Scotiabank Giller Prize Shortlist 2020
Every story in this collection is strong. David Chariandy calls it "one of the great short story collections of our time." Madeleine Thien calls it "a major work and a lasting one". And Sharon Bala calls it a "masterful collection." Susan (@ A Life in Books) says all the stories are "remarkable in their eloquent … Continue reading #ShadowGiller: How To Pronounce Knife by Souvankham Thammavongsa
I didn't get far into Lampedusa before realizing why this book was selected as one of the finalists. For someone who has never been to Sicily (1950s Sicily), I felt completely immersed in it - the atmosphere, the architecture, the societal structure. Aristocracy in Sicily? I hadn't given it a thought. And that's what this … Continue reading Giller Shortlist: Lampedusa by Steven Price
Although David Bezmozgis has been on the Giller list before (with Free World in 2011 and The Betrayers in 2014), this is the first of his books I've read. And the only short story collection on the shortlist this year. (Here is my chance to put a plug in for K.D. Miller's Late Breaking - … Continue reading Giller Shortlist: Immigrant City by David Bezmozgis
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
Consumed by Ink 