While preparing for a ‘spring books to watch’ segment on my monthly radio appearance, I chose The Fake by Zoe Whittall for two reasons; one, I keep seeing it mentioned everywhere, so obviously the publisher has been successful in creating ‘buzz’. Secondly, it’s a work of fiction about a con-artist, which is always a fun…
Growing up in Ontario means I’m still learning about the Western Canadian books that everyone has read. I moved out west to Calgary 14 years ago now, and even though I’m firmly embedded in our publishing world here, I’m not familiar with what’s considered a ‘classic’ and what all the kids read in high school….
Described as a locked-room mystery, The Golden Spoon by Jessa Maxwell is a debut novel that delivers exactly what it promises; a fun story with some quirky characters and a rich setting that ties it all together nicely. Its publisher compares it to the bestselling mystery The Maid by Nita Prose, another whodunit that’s written…
This non-fiction book has been lingering on my shelf for four years now as the publishers sent it to me back in 2019. But I hadn’t had the heart to give it away as I was fascinated by the topic, and kept intending to get to it someday. Finally, I read Consent, A Memoir of…
Admittedly a strange topic, these two picture books found their way onto my shelf at different times, and they both happen to feature seniors. One is a look back at a life well-lived as it comes to a close, while the other is a period in time of an older gentleman who lives alone but…
Not quite a book about books, The Night of Many Endings by Melissa Payne is a book about libraries instead. It’s a feel-good novel that tackles some weighty subjects but ties up the issues nicely, giving the reader a semblance of control where there really isn’t one. Taking place in the snowy Rocky Mountains (Colorado,…
It may be the first time I’m blogging about Canadian-born writer Eleanor Catton, but I’ve been following her career since I read her first book – a breakout novel that her publisher pushed into my hands, predicting she would be huge. Although she hasn’t necessarily found commercial success, she’s won enough book awards (most recently…
Do you ever see a book and immediately realize it’s written just for you? Seeing the title and cover on this one was an instant hit of recognition for me; Send Me Into the Woods Alone, Essays on Motherhood by Erin Pepler made me feel like I was its ideal audience. It’s a very short…
Like my recent read of a Colleen Hoover book a few months ago, I finally picked up another bestelling author that everyone seems to swear by: Jodi Picoult. Her 2022 book titled Wish You Were Here was something I put off reading because I knew it was about the pandemic, and I just didn’t feel…
Its fabulous title originally drew me to the short story collection Not the Apocalypse I Was Hoping For by Leslie Greentree, but the fact that it’s a locally published and authored work, right here in Calgary at the University of Calgary Press, was reason enough for me to read this one; I love a book…
A debut novel with a gothic twist, The Cloisters by Katy Hays scratched my itch for a plot-driven story that would offer up some escapism for the snowy March we’ve been experiencing here in Calgary. Taking place in present-day New York City over one hot and sweaty summer, this is a dark look at obsession…
Some of my Canadian readers will recognize my next title. Superfan: How Pop Culture Broke My Heart by Jen Sookfong Lee has gotten lots of recent and positive coverage in the media, and I tend to enjoy non-fiction essays with a lighter touch, so I opted to give it a try when the publisher sent…
