Book Reviews
I typically post between two and three book reviews a week. Please refer to my review policy if you’d like to submit a book for consideration. I invite you to subscribe to my newsletter to get a summary of my reviews once a month.
Book Review: Bina by Anakana Schofield
The last thing anyone wants to hear right now is a warning. Haven't we had enough of those? Even our traffic signs are being switched over to reminders about good hand hygiene. Although I agree this is all necessary, I've reached my limit of cautionary tales right...
Book Review: Barry Sonnenfeld, Call Your Mother by Barry Sonnenfeld
I had never heard the name Barry Sonnenfeld before I read this book, probably because he's a 'behind the cameras' kind of celebrity. He's a well-respected filmmaker and director who made movies like Men in Black and The Addams Family. He's got a bunch of famous...
Book Review: The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
I'm reminded of a particular quote: "This might hurt a little. Be brave." when I think of The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead. That sentence appears at the beginning of Megan Gail Coles' book Small Game Hunting, but it's all too applicable to this novel as well...
Book Review: A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of Four by Arthur Conan Doyle
I've been on a 'classical' streak lately; reading The Haunting of Hill House a few weeks ago whet my appetite for the older stuff, so armed with a recommendation from FictionFan, I went to the library in search of some Arthur Conan Doyle. I picked up the tidy little...
Book Review: The Empress of Idaho by Todd Babiak
A staple of the Alberta book scene, Todd Babiak is a familiar name to most. In addition to his talents as a writer, he is quite simply, a very funny person. He hosted the Alberta Literary Awards a few years ago, keeping the audience laughing throughout, and believe...
IveReadThis Jr. Edition: Bookish Options for March Break
Now that March break is approaching, nervous parents are no doubt asking themselves "what do we do now"? For those who have booked sunny vacations elsewhere, CONGRATULATIONS GOOD FOR YOU but the rest of us need some options so I'm sliding in here to point you towards...
Book Review: Relative Fortunes by Marlowe Benn
Mystery readers are a picky bunch, and I'm allowed to say that because I count myself as one of them. The pacing needs to be tight but not rushed, the detective needs to be believable but not unlikable, and the solution better be conclusive but not obvious. And don't...
Video Book Review: Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter
So I feel quite foolish that this is the first Karin Slaughter book I've ever read. She's an America superstar thriller writer that everyone but me is familiar with, as she's sold over 35 million books and even has a section of her website dedicated to selling...
Ivereadthis Jr. Edition: Unicorn Books
I'm not sure where the unicorn trend started. Was it with the advent of bright colours and sparkly accents to little girl's clothes? Is it an extension of the popularity of My Little Pony? Was it when we started putting blow-up unicorn horns on our cats (or was that...
Book Review: The Farm by Joanne Ramos
I had wanted to read this book for awhile now, and when I saw the author speak at a Wordfest event earlier this year I was struck by how eloquent and honest she was, which finally convinced me to pick it up. Joanne Ramos immigrated to America from the Philippines when...
Book Review: NDN Coping Mechanisms by Billy-Ray Belcourt
It's the inaugural I Read Canadian Day today (February 19), and to celebrate I'm highlighting a Canadian book published by a Canadian press, written by an Albertan. NDN Coping Mechanisms by Billy-Ray Belcourt was published in 2019 by House of Anansi Press. It's a book...
Ivereadthis Jr. Edition: 2020 Valentine’s Day Books
When I was little, every holiday, even manufactured ones like Valentine's Day were exciting, usually because it meant I was going to get something sugary to eat. Only a few things have changed since then; instead of getting chocolate from my parents, I now get it from...