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
Anyone who has read this book will understand when I say that I don't know where to start with this, and I don't know where it's going to go. Let's start with structure. Reproduction is a literary structural feat. I didn't even realize the extent of it until I did some homework. Part 1 of … Continue reading Giller Shortlist: Reproduction by Ian Williams
The Giller Prize shortlist is out! The Shadow Jury will be reading and reviewing these books over the next 6 weeks, and will be choosing a shadow winner a few days before the official Giller Prize announcement on November 18th. Immigrant City by David Bezmozgis, published by HarperCollins Jury's Thoughts: "Bezmozgis has reimagined immigrant lives not simply … Continue reading Scotiabank Giller Prize Shortlist 2019
An Ocean of Minutes had me in its grip. I was so invested in the outcome, I couldn't put it down. I had high hopes for it, too, when I read that it involved time travel and a flu epidemic. But how was Lim going to make her book stand out from other dystopian novels? … Continue reading Shadow Giller: An Ocean of Minutes by Thea Lim
Frances and Malcolm, mother and son, a wealthy pair of callous social outcasts, have just found out that all their money is gone. They have to make big changes, but neither are inclined to work for it - what will become of them? ("... her blood thrilled at life's gruesome pageant.") Frances's friend, Joan, offers … Continue reading Shadow Giller: French Exit by Patrick deWitt
Gary Barwin's imagination knocked my socks off. History and adventure come together in this remarkable tale full of word play and wit, all told by a 500-year-old Yiddish-speaking parrot. So, you ask, how did this shell-less cheder-bocher - schoolboy - drawn from the waters of Ashkenaz find himself on the Spanish Main, the blade of … Continue reading Shadow Giller: Yiddish For Pirates by Gary Barwin
I've had this book for a while; picked it up a few times, put it back down for something else. But, when the 2015 Scotiabank Giller Prize Long-list came out, and this book was on it, I finally decided to dive in. If I Fall, If I Die is about an agoraphobic mother and her … Continue reading If I Fall, If I Die by Michael Christie
We all wonder what is going on inside the mind of a sexual deviant, right? Harm was done./ But he liked it./ It was hard to credit that harm had been done when you liked it. This book is weird and uncomfortable. And the more you read, the more squirmy you will become. But, … Continue reading Martin John by Anakana Schofield
The Orenda by Joseph Boyden is going to be the next book in my CanLit Project. I've been excited to read this book since it first came out, so when I picked it up at the library a few day ago I knew it was going to be my B book. A couple of years … Continue reading Joseph Boyden
The first book of my CanLit Project was actually finished a few days ago, but I am only just now getting time to write about it. I quite enjoyed it, but it was different than I was expecting. I hadn't read any of the reviews before reading it, except for what was on the back … Continue reading The Cure for Death By Lightning; Not What I was Expecting
Consumed by Ink 