I've had this on my radar for a while, since it first came out and won so much acclaim. I love a good retelling of a classic story, whether from another character's perspective (Natalie Haynes is brilliant at this) or transposed into another era (Kingsolver's Demon Copperhead is a great example). The key with these examples is... Continue Reading →
Vigil, by George Saunders. Pub 2026
I was excited to read this, as George Saunders is a favourite short story writer, and his excellent previous novel (Lincoln in the Bardo) was a favourite in recent years. A friend recommended this book earlier in the year, and after a recent coffee chat where I was praising Saunders' stories, it seemed timely to... Continue Reading →
The Wind Through the Keyhole, by Stephen King. Pub 2012
Published more than a decade after the conclusion of the Dark Tower series, this book nonetheless fits into the series between books 4 and 5, so that’s where I read it. The book includes a nested set of stories, and follows a similar style to the campfire story central to Book 4: Wizard and Glass.... Continue Reading →
The Ghost Orchard, by Helen Humphreys. Pub 2017
Helen Humphreys is a writer beloved by me for her poetic descriptions, lyrical narratives, and unusual blending of fiction and non-fiction (see Machine Without Horses for a great example). I have read almost her entire oeuvre, but this one (a Christmas gift) had been lingering on my shelves for a few years until recently. On a... Continue Reading →
A Truce that is Not Peace, by Miriam Toews. Pub 2025
A big thank-you to my book club partner for the gift of this book. This is truly a marvellous memoir, interweaving the poetry, memories, letters, and introspections about writing, family - children, parents, sisters - and suicide. Despite the heavy topics, this was a joy to read. Miriam Toews, a renowned Canadian author whose novels... Continue Reading →
Normal People, by Sally Rooney. Pub 2018
I chose this book after hearing some podcasters go on and on about it, mostly in anticipation of her next/latest book (Intermezzo). Normal People is the one that established Rooney as an "it" writer, so it seemed the best place to start. (SPOILERS ALERT) The story was interesting but not especially novel. Connell and Marianne are schoolmates... Continue Reading →
A Good Man is Hard to Find, by Flannery O’Connor. Pub ~1955
This almost falls into the category of 'books I should read', but it's not really that level of classic. I recall reading somewhere that this collection was one of those quintessential set of stories about America, and that's what drew me to it. Unfortunately, I found the entire collection to be just okay. As with... Continue Reading →
Babel, by RF Kuang. Pub 2022
I picked this book based on the effusive praise from a customer in the local bookshop (there will be a few more in the next few months based on her recommendations). I didn't recognize the author's name, but upon starting this book realized I had read her before - her debut novel, Yellowface, which was so... Continue Reading →
The Correspondent, by Virginia Evans. Pub 2025
My second from the short list of Women's Prize books, this was another excellent novel. A bit more commonplace than the other, but still an excellent page-turner. The titular correspondent is Sybil, a septuagenarian woman living on her own in New England, who busies herself with the habits of reading and writing letters. We learn... Continue Reading →
The Shell Seekers, by Rosamunde Pilcher. Pub 1988
The Shell Seekers is considered a classic (e.g., on this BBC list) and has not been out of print in the nearly 40 years of its existence. This family saga centres on Penelope Keeling, 64yo (same age as the author) and living in a tidy little house on an acreage in Gloucestershire, and her three children. Through... Continue Reading →
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