This book was recommended by a friend, who read it after it won the 2026 Canada Reads series. I knew nothing about it other than that, but I picked it up before vacation to read ahead of my next tea date with my friend. I should have asked more questions. Set in rural Ontario, The... Continue Reading →
Lolita, by Vladamir Nabokov. Pub 1955
Frequently appearing on best-novels lists, I’ve always found this one to be intimidating, mostly because of the subject matter, but also because of its lofty reputation as elite literature. However, after a thorough introduction and assurance that the novel was worth reading by the excellent The Book Club podcast, I decided it was time. I... Continue Reading →
Never Whistle at Night. Ed. By Shane Hawk and Theodore C Van Alst Jr. Pub 2023
This was a last-minute addition to my vacation book pile, based on the recommendation of the bookstore. I was expecting ghost and monster stories, perfect for a camping trip, and while there are those in this collection, most stories were stronger as allegories about North American colonialism, generational trauma, and disrespect of nature and the... Continue Reading →
Lord of the Flies, by William Golding. Pub 1954
I was inspired to read this by The Book Club podcast, as it is on their upcoming reading list. I recall I had to read this in Grade 9, and also saw the 1963 film at about the same time. However, my memory was quite vague about the story details, so this rereading was like... Continue Reading →
Train Dreams, by Denis Johnson. Pub 2002. Issued in book form in 2011.
I selected this slim book based on the recommendation of the New York Times. I’d also heard it was made into a well-received film, so added it to my vacation book pile. Blessedly short, this felt like a strange and pointless story. It is well written, but there is no meaningful story or characters. The... Continue Reading →
This is Happiness, by Niall Williams. Pub 2019
This has been on my shelf for a while, moving up and down the tsundoku depending on when and from whom I heard it mentioned. It was on the top at last just before vacation. Described by critics as “unhurried” and “elegiac”, it requires slow and savoury reading, perfect for a holiday. The novel is... Continue Reading →
The Odyssey, by Homer. Translation by Emily Wilson. Pub 2017
I have read The Odyssey before (not sure when), from another translator. A few years ago, listened to the audiobook version of Wilson's translation. Then I heard that Christopher Nolan's movie version was in part based on and inspired by this translation, so I wanted to read it again before seeing the movie. Very briefly, The Odyssey tells... Continue Reading →
11/22/63, by Stephen King. Pub 2011
This monster of a book was a recommendation from a fellow book shopper a few months ago. I was intrigued by the concept – a man travels back in time to stop the assassination of JFK – but that is only a sidebar in this lengthy mess of a story. Briefly, in a diner in... Continue Reading →
James, by Percival Everett. Pub 2024
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 →
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 →