It all starts with a little lab rat named ‘Buddy’. And this little rat appears in very unusual places, including a few  pages of Jay Hosking‘s debut novel Three Years with the Rat. But what’s shocking about this rat is the fact that he disappears for a few weeks at a time, but then appears…
Well I’d like to claim that I read this book already because I knew it would be an award contender, but alas I cannot lie-I read it because I’m hosting an event with Michael Helm and his new book After James for Wordfest. As as event host I was given an advanced reading copy with…
So I had all these grand plans for fully partaking in Wordfest last week. I told them I would volunteer, host two events, and generally be anywhere and everywhere as much as my schedule would allow. My husband even offered to take some time off work so I could immerse myself in the festival experience….
There is some seriously creepy stuff going on in this book. Rise the Dark by Michael Koryta is the latest in his Mark Novak series, which features a private investigator by that very name, hell bent on finding revenge for his wife’s murder. It’s a great premise for any mystery thriller, but what this Canadian…
It was only a matter of time until I reviewed a book about cancer on this blog. It’s such a pervasive disease; everyone knows someone else with cancer, many people have experienced it in their immediate family (myself included) and many others have gone through it themselves. The big ‘c’ is something that everyone dreads,…
It’s that time of year again! Thanksgiving is almost upon us, which also means Wordfest is right around the corner. Back when I worked for the festival, the falling leaves typically struck fear into my heart because it signalled the beginning of an extremely busy time for me. But now that I can enjoy the…
Most people have heard of Lisa Moore. She’s an extremely well-known Canadian writer because she’s been on almost every book prize list at least once ANDÂ won Canada Reads a few years ago. She’s one of those literary stars we love to boast as our own, so it’s not surprising she’s taken the plunge into writing…
So with the onslaught of Fall book awards come the annual procession of literary festivals. Canada is lucky enough to have quite a few of them, although there is always room for more! As you all know, I used to work for Wordfest, so this is a topic near and dear to my heart. I…
As the countdown to the Giller Prize ticks along, I’m reading and reviewing as many nominated books as I can. Next up on my list is Marina Endicott’s Close to Hugh. I have a soft spot in my hardened little heart for Endicott. She splits her time between Toronto and Alberta (Edmonton), so she goes…
I recently finished reading Elizabeth Hay‘s new book His Whole Life. And I loved it. Obviously, because Elizabeth Hay is great. I’ve also been helping the wonderful Shelley Youngblut program the 20th anniversary of Wordfest this year. So…they filmed me (nervously) reviewing this book as part of the festival preparations. Should I stick to doing…
Ok I am specifically NOT looking at any other reviews of Patrick deWitt‘s Under Major Domo Minor before I post this, because I don’t want anyone else’s opinion to influence mine, or make me second guess myself. Not only did I love this book, but I think it is destined to become a classic, one…
“…how can a man be so headstrong about not asking for directions, and such a wimp about pain?” These, and other answers can be found in the collection of essays titled What I Meant to Say: the Private Lives of Men edited by Ian Brown. Although not all my questions about men were answered (which…
