Death by a Thousand Cuts by Shashi Bhat The stories in Death by a Thousand Cuts are devastating, funny, and completely accessible. She makes reading feel easy and then drops a thought bomb on you that makes you realize how intentionally-crafted these stories are. In Dealbreaker, Asha is trying to find a partner through online … Continue reading From the Library: Shashi Bhat, Chelsea Wakelyn, and Lisa Brideau
Since Florrie's leave-taking, there is no one with whom I may share my real feelings, no place in my life for candour and misery, save between the covers of this black book. My truth shall remain trapped on its pages, while my happy little lies travel the world. I don't know where to begin with … Continue reading Grey Dog by Elliott Gish (ECW Press)
"Memory plays tricks. Memory is another word for story, and nothing is more unreliable." -- Ann-Marie MacDonald, Fall on Your Knees Emily and Daniel have moved back home to Nova Scotia, with their 3-year-old son Ryan, after living in Alberta for ten years. Emily is excited to be back by the ocean, but it also … Continue reading In the Wake by Nicola Davison
The Honey Farm has produced a lot of buzz since it came out. In advance praise for the book, Kirkus calls it "lush" and "poetic", Quill & Quire claims that it "evokes gothic tropes and a rippling aura of foreboding", while Iain Reid calls it "mysterious, suspenseful, and unnerving". In his review at The Miramichi … Continue reading The Honey Farm by Harriet Alida Lye
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
It's hard not to compare books by the same author. I was a little nervous going into Swimming Lessons, because I liked Our Endless Numbered Days so much. I couldn't help but wonder how she was going to top it. Or at least equal it. Well, she did. The stories are very different, but the … Continue reading Swimming Lessons by Claire Fuller
The Fortunate Brother by Donna Morrissey Donna Morrissey is a well-known and accomplished author from Newfoundland (who now lives in Nova Scotia), and I'm embarrassed to admit that this was my first time reading one of her books. However, I am happy to say that I couldn't have been more pleased with my experience, and … Continue reading ‘The Fortunate Brother’ by Donna Morrissey and ‘The Couple Next Door’ by Shari Lapena
I'll admit that I thought the title of this book was strange. But when I read the author's background, I was intrigued and hoped he had used a part of his neuroscience-y mind to write this book. He did, but not so much that the average reader can't follow what's going on. Just enough that … Continue reading Three Years With the Rat by Jay Hosking
Literary Wives is an on-line book club that examines the meaning and role of wife in different books. Every other month, we post and discuss a book with this question in mind: What does this book say about wives or about the experience of being a wife? Don’t forget to check out the other members of Literary … Continue reading Literary Wives: How To Be A Good Wife by Emma Chapman
So many questions: The Animals is a story of a friendship gone wrong. That's what I got out of it, anyway. Along with some beautiful writing. And, these questions: Can you outrun your mistakes? For how long? Is it possible to re-invent your life? Is it possible to re-invent it without looking back over your … Continue reading The Animals by Christian Kiefer
Consumed by Ink 