Two From the Giller Longlist: “Split Tooth” and “Vi”

Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq What a physically beautiful book this is, with its white jacket and red edging. I hate to take it back to the library. There are snippets of beauty between the covers, too - but like the long bright summer days and the cold dark winters of the north, the moments … Continue reading Two From the Giller Longlist: “Split Tooth” and “Vi”

Mile End by Lise Tremblay, translated by Gail Scott

When I saw this book at the library and read that it was about a "grotesque fat woman getting larger every day", I immediately thought of Melanie's quest for fat-positive books which prompted me to bring this one home and read it. I have to admit that, from the blurb on the back of the … Continue reading Mile End by Lise Tremblay, translated by Gail Scott

Boundary: The Last Summer by Andrée A. Michaud

It's 1967 in the vacation cottage community of Boundary; an idyllic place to bring your family for the summer. Until a teenage girl goes missing. And then another. Replacing the peacefulness of the place with terror. Who is responsible? is it one of the community members, or the ghost of an old man who used … Continue reading Boundary: The Last Summer by Andrée A. Michaud

Shadow Giller: The Party Wall by Catherine Leroux, translated by Lazer Lederhendler

The first thing I noticed about The Party Wall, even before reading the first page, was the story/character sequence; ABACADABACADA. Intriguing, right? Then, after about four stories into it, I had no idea where any of it was going (a good thing). Even more enticing are the little clues giving us hints as to when … Continue reading Shadow Giller: The Party Wall by Catherine Leroux, translated by Lazer Lederhendler

The Douglas Notebooks: A Fable by Christine Eddie

Once there was a boy who grew up feeling like he couldn't do anything right. No one would give him the time of day, and everything that went wrong was blamed on him. So he went far away, deep into the woods, to live by himself. On the same day there was a girl who was … Continue reading The Douglas Notebooks: A Fable by Christine Eddie

Twenty-One Cardinals by Jocelyne Saucier

Back in January, my heart was stolen by And the Birds Rained Down. So I was very happy to get my hands on Twenty-One Cardinals, also translated from French by Rhonda Mullins. There are 21 kids in the Cardinal family. The two dozen eggs in the morning, the hundred pounds of potatoes in the cellar, the morning … Continue reading Twenty-One Cardinals by Jocelyne Saucier

Captive by Claudine Dumont

I can finally say that I have a psychological thriller to recommend. I first saw this book when C.J. at ebookclassics reviewed it. The next time I heard of it was when the 2015 Governor General's Literary Award lists came out. Emma is miserable. She goes to work, comes home, drinks too much. Then, one … Continue reading Captive by Claudine Dumont