Larry’s Party, by Carol Shields. Pub 1997 I first read this book in 1997; I splurged on a hard-cover (first Canadian edition, even), and read and enjoyed it immediately. A few years later, I listened to an audiobook version (on cassette tape, of all things) which is no longer available anywhere. It's a book I... Continue Reading →
Olive Kitteridge, by Elizabeth Strout. Book report #29 (2022)
Olive Kitteridge, by Elizabeth Strout. Pub 2008. I recall a friend giving me this book years ago - I think she was moving from a nearby home to a faraway one, and was off-loading books and other stuff to me. This was one she was adamant I read. In my own house, it drifted to... Continue Reading →
We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, by Karen Joy Fowler. Book report #28 (2022)
We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, by Karen Joy Fowler. Pub 2013. This book was a re-gift from a friend (who herself received it as a re-gift). My friend reported being surprised at enjoying this one, as she did not enjoy the author’s more famous book. At the heart of this book is a surprising... Continue Reading →
At Night All Blood is Black, by David Diop. Book report #27 (2022)
At Night All Blood is Black, by David Diop. Pub 2018. Translation by Anna Moschovakis published 2020. I selected this book knowing only a few things about it: it is an award winner (Booker International 2021), it is a translation from the original French, titled Frère d'âme, and it has a colour in the title. It... Continue Reading →
River Thieves, by Michael Crummey. Pub 2001
Michael Crummey is a Newfoundland writer (funny how that seems more correct than to say Canadian writer) whose work is consistently terrific - creative, surprising, with exceptionally clear characters and evocative language. All of his stories have a historical basis, but he is consistent and clear in his acknowledgement and warning to readers that the... Continue Reading →
Big Feelings, by Liz Fosslien and Mollie West Duffy. Book report extra #7 (2022)
Big Feelings, by Liz Fosslien and Mollie West Duffy. Pub 2022 I chose this book based on the social media hype and discussion about it. Many will be familiar with the illustrations and comics by this pair of workplace and development consultants. This is their second book (the first was No Hard Feelings from 2019, which looked... Continue Reading →
Excellent Women, by Barbara Pym. Book report extra #6 (2022)
Excellent Women, by Barbara Pym. Pub 1952 I heard about Barbara Pym on a most excellent podcast that I listen to called Backlisted https://www.backlisted.fm/ from which readers are directed to excellent books and authors who are under-appreciated or overlooked and deemed worthy of praise and an overdue audience. With one description being a kind of 1950's... Continue Reading →
The Growing Season, by Nelson Boschman. Book report #25 (2022)
The Growing Season, by Nelson Boschman. Pub 2022 I find myself in contemplative mood a lot these days, and in recent months feeling drawn to consider some spiritual additions to my daily life. Perhaps for the ritual, but more I think for answers to "why" and "what else" questions. Reading The Madness of Grief was perhaps a... Continue Reading →
And a Dog Called Fig, by Helen Humphreys. Book report #24 (2022)
And a Dog Called Fig, by Helen Humpreys. Pub 2022 I have read (almost) everything fiction and non-fiction that Humphreys has written, and each book has been wonderful. Back in 2019, I read her Machine Without Horses, an interesting combination of novel and writer's memoir, and I enjoyed the memoir part and noted that it... Continue Reading →
Rosary Made of Air, by Joseph Massey. Book report #23 (2022)
Rosary Made of Air, by Joseph Massey. Pub 2022. I was led to this book through the circuit of poets and artists and other writers that I follow on Twitter (remarkable that Twitter can be a coming together rather than a sundering). Brief snippets of poems and insightful comments intrigued me and felt like gifts... Continue Reading →
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