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 →
A False and Fatal Claim, by Iona Whishaw. Pub 2026
Another winner in the Lane Winslow saga, culminating in (at last) a wedding. Fans of the series (like me) are not disappointed in this latest instance of mystery and developments in time Kings Cove. The story here is a bit convoluted, with gangsters from the East making deadly mischief in the Nelson area, right around... Continue Reading →
Snap, by Susin Nielsen. Pub 2025
This was part of my Christmas book pile, selected due to the endorsement by Susan Juby (Mindful of Murder). There seems to be a cohort of local children's authors who are moving into light adult fiction, and this novel is part of that wave. It seemed like a nice light read and it was that... Continue Reading →
A Meditation on Murder, by Susan Juby. Pub 2024
I started this one in the hopes of finishing it to pass on to another reader. I looked forward to more delightful enlightenment from the world’s calmest butler since Jeeves and was not disappointed. In this second of the Helen Thorpe mystery series, we find Helen ensconced in West Vancouver with a wealthy and eclectic... Continue Reading →
The Librarianist, by Patrick DeWitt. Pub 2023
I had high hopes for this book, as I enjoyed French Exit very much. I waited till this was in paperback before adding it to my Christmas wish list, which was duly fulfilled by Santa. While this novel is not as good as the other, it is an enjoyable, engaging, and well-written story with a few... Continue Reading →
The Glass Hotel, by Emily St. John Mandel. Pub 2020
I've enjoyed Mandel's books in the past, so added this one to my Christmas wish list. Mandel creates complex and memorable characters and unusual situations, and this book is true to form. Based indirectly (but very closely) on the Bernie Madoff scheme, the unlikely central character is Vincent Smith, a young woman from Northern Vancouver... Continue Reading →
A Season for Spies, by Iona Whishaw. Pub 2025
A banner year with two Lane Winslow stories! This one is a prequel of sorts, going back to Lane’s years during WWII. Here we read about her inaugural mission, where she of course goes above and beyond to thwart the Nazis and save the day, impressing some superiors and irritating others. I hope that there... Continue Reading →
Mindful of Murder, by Susan Juby. Pub 2022
I was drawn to this book on the recommendation of a friend, who knows the author. I was promised a light and engaging murder mystery, and this delivered. Set primarily at the Yatra Institute, a meditation centre and lodge on a remote island in BC, we follow Helen and her colleagues, all recent graduates of... Continue Reading →
The Stone Diaries, by Carol Shields. Pub 1993
Like so many favourite books from the distant past, this is one I hadn’t read since the first time, so didn’t remember much of the story (and in fact was confusing it in my memory with The Stone Angel). Like with A Prayer for Owen Meany, I decided to read it again to refresh the... Continue Reading →
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