The hype surrounding the release of Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall was significant; it sold rights in 30 separate countries, and was chosen to be the next Reese Witherspoon book club pick with a movie deal already in the works. I’ve never been ashamed to say I follow this celebrity’s book choices closely –…
Another Fredrick Backman book is a cause for celebration for many readers, including myself. He’s a bestselling writer that keeps churning out the hits, so if you’re a fan of his some of his previous books like the Beartown series, or Anxious People, you’ll more than likely enjoy his latest novel, My Friends. Written in…
As you can tell by my tropical photo above, I was visiting warmer climes as of late. When I find myself in a dreaded airport, I always make sure to check out the books on sale because I’m curious to see what’s popular, and what constitutes a ‘beach read’ for most. I was delighted to…
I had been meaning to read The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley when it first hit my doorstep almost a full year ago, but I never seemed to get around to it (story of my life, and my bookshelf). When I saw how much attention it was getting, plus it’s appearance on the Top…
I was immediately intrigued by the cover of the novel Rosenfeld, by Maya Kessler. It was designed to look like a movie rating, with the capital letter “R”, and the subtitle A Grown-Up Love Story for Grown-Ups. Although I’ll read an occasional romance novel (typically when it’s centered around a holiday), I do prefer the…
There’s been lots of talk of ‘body horror’ this past Fall, with films like The Substance coming out and making quite the (bloody) splash. The Queen by Nick Cutter could also be considered body horror, which is defined (according to Wikipedia) as a subgenre of horror that that intentionally showcases grotesque violations of the human…
It’s time for my spooky season of reading to begin, and what better way to kick it off with a review of a book that excels in creating a creepy atmosphere? The Hitchcock Hotel by Stephanie Wrobel lays the groundwork for uneasiness; it features bizarre behaviour, bad omens, unhealthy obsessions, and of course, crows. You…
After reading a recommendation of this book by Laila at Big Reading Life, I knew I had to pick up The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean. It was already on my shelf anyway having been sent to me by the publisher, so it was an easy decision of what to read next (a…
I’ll admit to picking this book up in the first place because it seemed juicy. A tell-all memoir about a woman discovering her recently deceased husband was hiding a bunch of things? Give me the tea! But The Widow’s Guide to Dead Bastards by Calgary author Jessica Waite wasn’t a simple look at how terrible…
A unique premise of a book always draws my attention, simply because there are SO many books being published these days, it feels like many are a recycling of older themes and ideas. But when A Short Walk Through a Wide World by Douglas Westerbeke was pitched to me, I immediately asked for it because…
The latest book by Canadian author Emily Austin titled Interesting Facts About Space may not have as clever a title as her last book, Everyone In This Room Will Someday Be Dead, but its got the same sense of quirky humour and another slightly relatable and memorable protagonist. Both her books are very similar in…
A quote on the cover of Maude Horton’s Glorious Revenge by Lizzie Pook loudly proclaims it as escapist fiction, although I’m hesitant to slap that label on it. Yes, it transports the reader to another time and place, but it does more than distract – it educates! Pook herself is a journalist and traveler, and…
