canadian lit
-
Reviews: A Complicated Kindness & Three Wishes
A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews I don’t think I can adequately express just how devastating, unfamiliar, and outstanding I found this novel to be. I mentioned in a previous post that I had this sitting on my shelves for far too long- I kept putting this read off, for whatever reasons. But, my goodness, Read more
-
Encore! Picture Book Picks: Storytime Favourites
A read aloud can make or break the success of a storytime. I’ve had those storytimes where, just a few lines into a picture book I can tell it’s going to be a clunker with the kids. The sweating begins, the voice becomes uncertain and it…doesn’t…go….well…and you’re dying a slow death on stage. But when Read more
-
Reading Challenge, 2015: Adult Fiction
One of my reading goals for 2015 is to tackle more adult fiction titles- particularly those out of my perceived comfort zone. I think I often just don’t feel like challenging myself or my reading preferences enough! As an example, I recently finished Miriam Toews’ award-winning A Complicated Kindness– (first read of 2015!)- and not Read more
-
Best of 2014, Part 4: Picture Books
This collage of covers includes my picks for top picture book titles I read in 2014. Please note that some titles may have been published in previous years, but they were all new to me this year! In no particular order, here are my favourites: Read more
-
Best of 2014, Part 2: Children’s Fiction and Young Adult
My picks for top 5 children’s and top 5 YA fiction I read this year: Murder Most Unladylike (Wells and Wong #1) by Robin Stevens The Return of Zita the Spacegirl (Zita the Spacegirl #3) by Ben Hatke Now Look What You’ve Done (Timmy Failure #2) by Stephen Read more
-
Review: Y by Marjorie Celona
Review: Y by Marjorie Celona Source: Paperback edition, courtesy of Goodreads First Reads and Penguin Canada Verdict: Very Good Book Description: My life begins at the Y. So begins the story of Shannon, a newborn baby dumped at the doors of the YMCA. She is found moments later by a man who catches a mere Read more
-
Review: 40 Things I Want to Tell You by Alice Kuipers
Review: 40 Things I Want to Tell You by Alice Kuipers Source: Paperback, Published February 10th 2012 by HarperTrophy Canada Verdict: Very Good Book Description: Amy (a.k.a. Bird) seems to have the perfect life: loving parents, a hot boyfriend, the best friend ever. She even writes an online advice column, full of Top Tips, to Read more
-
Review: Cadillac Couches by Sophie B. Watson
Review: Cadillac Couches by Sophie B. Watson Source: Paperback, Published September 4, 2012 by Brindle and Glass Publishing Verdict: Excellent Book Description: Cadillac Couches is a picaresque road trip novel that journeys from prairie to big city and back again. A quixotic tale set in the late ’90s and framed by the popular Edmonton Folk Read more
-
2014 Reading, So Far: SIGH
I have written a post about the good highlights of my 2014 reading year so far. However, as with any reading year, there are bound to be some stinkers. Okay, maybe ‘stinker’ is too harsh a word, but let’s just say, these titles just fell flat. Some I had high expectations for, which is why Read more
-
Summer reading, had me a blast…
“I carried a watermelon” Do you have a particular genre or author(s) you favour over the summer months? I don’t entirely eschew heavier or darker reads over the summer, but I do have a tendency to enjoy comics, contemporary, old favourites, and the funny (…much like I do in the middle of our Canadian winters, Read more
FAB BOOK REVIEWS 