Like many people, I picked up this book because of the title. I haven’t gotten sick of ‘quirky’ yet, so I gave Everyone In This Room Will Someday Be Dead by Emily Austin a go. Is it just me, or does this book look American to you? I’m not sure why I feel that way,…
I’m finding myself drawn to collections of essays more and more as I get older. Perhaps it’s because I have less time on my hands, so reading self-contained chapters is more rewarding, or maybe it’s because I’m just curious about other people’s perspectives, and an essay is the perfect way to dive quickly into someone…
In a work of fiction, one of the most enjoyable experiences to read about is a protagonist striking it big, finding the perfect person, landing that killer job, or realizing one’s dreams, whatever that may be. Bootleg Stardust by Glenn Dixon is a great example of what makes fiction so damn fun to read; as…
I’m currently working on a project at my day job centered around Juneteenth, and much to my embarrassment, I had never even heard of this day before our American partner so kindly educated us. I’ve been doing a bit more research since, but I still have much to learn. It’s typically celebrated on June 19,…
I’ll admit to requesting this book because of the title alone: Other People’s Children by R.J. Hoffmann seemed liked the type of catty novel that describes the judgements we make about how people raise their kids ( we all do it!). So imagine my surprise when this book is anything but catty, when it turns…
It seems strange to admit, but the cover of Infinite Country by Patricia Engel is the first thing that drew me into it, which is rare for me; I’m rarely swayed by the cover of a book, but I loved the metallic rainbow panels in between the detailed pencil sketches. These three animals, the condor,…
Does a book cover with hot pink letters and the word “Ladies” in the title give you a certain impression of what you’ll find inside? If you’re anything like me, you may write a book off simply based on its colour scheme alone (why does it have to be pink for god’s sakes?) but if…
Yup, I’m reading another Ruth Ware book. I just can’t get enough of this writer, and she basically releases a book a year so there’s always something new for me to dive into. One by One takes place in the winter wonderland of the French Alps, so although I’m not getting much skiing in this…
I’ve had some great luck with historical fiction lately, and my 5 star reading streak continues with The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles. It helps that this novel is all about the power of reading and its ability to build resilience, which is something I’ve certainly benefitted from during this pandemic. Although the characters…
I’m a proud Calgarian and the fact that Giller Prize winning author Will Ferguson also lives in Calgary is just the tip of the iceberg of our wonderful writing community. I’ve been posting lots of local book reviews lately for good reason, we have a wealth of exceptional writers in our midst! I’ve often stated…
If you had the chance to secretly sit in on someone’s private therapy session, would you? Does hearing about the drama and disappointments of someone else’s life make you feel better about yours? I would personally answer ‘yes!’ to both those questions, but I may be in the minority. Group, How One Therapist and a…
Historical fiction isn’t typically a genre I get excited about. It’s one of those things that I tend to enjoy once I’ve been forced into it, but don’t actively seek it out on my own (I also feel this way about travel, and I blame my father for this general reluctance). Anyway, The Sea Gate…
