From the Library: motherhood, family, girlhood, and wellness

Three of these books are by Nova Scotian authors and one is from Newfoundland. All focus mainly on female characters: mothers, daughters, sisters, neighbours, friends, and even a wellness guru. The Remembering by Susan Sinnott (Nimbus Publishing) The Remembering is about a family in St. John's, Newfoundland. St. John's takes a central place in their … Continue reading From the Library: motherhood, family, girlhood, and wellness

The Little Brudders of Misericorde by David M. Wallace

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

QC Fiction: Eric Dupont and Vincent Brault

Rosa's Very Own Personal Revolution by Eric Dupont, translated by Peter McCambridge Eric Dupont seems to have his own distinct writing style. Like Songs for the Cold of Heart, Rosa--while not quite as epic--is whimsical and entertaining. Rosa grows up in a small village on the Gaspe Peninsula - isolated enough to have developed their … Continue reading QC Fiction: Eric Dupont and Vincent Brault

Butter Honey Pig Bread by Francesca Ekwuyasi

I absolutely loved this story about three Nigerian women who "must address the wounds of the past if they are to reconcile and move forward." The story is narrated by each of the women, alternately. Kambirinachi Kambirinachi believes she is an Ogbanje--"a spirit that plagues a family with grief by dying repeatedly in childhood and … Continue reading Butter Honey Pig Bread by Francesca Ekwuyasi

Linked Story Collections: Paul Carlucci and Martine Desjardins

The High-Rise in Fort Fierce by Paul Carlucci (Goose Lane Editions) I feel like I read this book ages ago now - I better hurry up and write about it before I forget why I loved it so much. Obvious reasons: The High-Rise in Fort Fierce is made up of interconnecting stories about residents of … Continue reading Linked Story Collections: Paul Carlucci and Martine Desjardins

Madame Victoria by Catherine Leroux, translated by Lazer Lederhendler

This is the second book by Catherine Leroux I've read. The first was The Party Wall, which the Shadow Giller jury (of which I am one) chose as their 2016 winner. In both cases I have found that Leroux's books are not just well-written stories (although they are that, too)... they are also cleverly imagined … Continue reading Madame Victoria by Catherine Leroux, translated by Lazer Lederhendler

Summer Reading: ‘The Naturalist’ and ‘The Mystics of Mile End’

  The Naturalist by Alissa York Any woman might marvel at a feather, but it takes a special turn of mind to appreciate a scale. [Walter Ash] I was so excited about The Naturalist when I saw it was coming out. I mean, it has a turtle on the cover! Two years ago, her last … Continue reading Summer Reading: ‘The Naturalist’ and ‘The Mystics of Mile End’