This book was recommended by a friend (the same who recommended The Berry Pickers), and was already in my book pile, so it was a good next choice. The poet Rumi has always seemed like a mythical romantic, someone one “should” read, and this seemed like a gentle way to get introduced. The novel has... Continue Reading →
Mrs Death Misses Death, by Salena Godden. Pub 2022
I was tricked into reading this book by a) hearing it mentioned somewhat favourably on a podcast, and b) being lulled by the title as a clever play on words. Unfortunately, this book has the ignominy of being my choice for the drivel category, and so early in the year. I hope this is a... Continue Reading →
Goblin Market and other poems, by Christina Rossetti. Pub 1862
I was moved to get this collection after hearing a Rossetti poem used as a plot device in a classic movie (Kiss Me Deadly, 1955). A character named Christina quotes a Rossetti poem that turns out to be a clue for the detective. This is Rossetti’s most famous collection, including her signature poem, “Goblin Market”.... Continue Reading →
The Nightingale Won’t Let You Sleep, by Steven Heighton. Pub 2017
This book was an accidental purchase. When I read last year about the death of Canadian poet and writer Steven Heighton, including a few moving elegies about his impact on CanLit, I ordered two books of his poetry. Or so I thought. This book is a novel, and I found the premise intriguing. Plus, I... Continue Reading →
Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. Pub 1859
Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, rendered into English verse by Edward Fitzgerald. Originally published in 1859 (1st ed.), my copy from 1960. My current favourite podcast is Backlisted, and I may shortly breakdown and get a paid subscription just so I can get some of my favourite features, including a list of all books mentioned on the... Continue Reading →
The Light of No Other Hour, by Joseph Massey. Pub 2023
This is my third book of poems by Massey, an independent and prolific poet. This book is self-published, and he also publishes regularly on his blog and other online places. Like most best poems, these are wonderful when read aloud, evoking the grit and chill and calm of days after storms, when the light is... Continue Reading →
The Plum Review. Book report #34 (2022)
The Plum Review, from Broken Sleep Books. Edited by Aaron Kent. Pub. 2022 A few years ago, I learned of this poem: This is Just to Say, by William Carlos Williams I have eaten the plums that were in the icebox and which you were probably saving for breakfast Forgive me they were delicious so... Continue Reading →
The Missing of the Somme, by Geoff Dyer. Book report #31 (2022)
The Missing of the Somme, by Geoff Dyer. Pub 1994, updated 2016 Last year, one of my favourite reads was But Beautiful by Geoff Dyer. At the time, I looked at his bibliography, but nothing leapt out at me. Then I heard him on a book-chat podcast a few months ago, and enjoyed his discussion, including a... 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 →
When We Cease to Understand the World, by Benjamin Labatut. Translation by Adrian Nathan West. Pub 2020
This book was an impulse purchase. At the bookstore to collect some books for work, I overheard the clerk telling another customer about this one and was intrigued by her effusive praise for the strange science and compelling stories. I thought it might make a good gift book for someone (and so an allowable purchase... Continue Reading →
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