If you know Ontario, you know the places like Crow Lake. The tiny towns, the stone of the Canadian Shield, the smell of the lakes in the summer, the way the trees grow. Mary Lawson effortlessly creates a fictional space out of this real world. Crow Lake the town isn't real but Crow Lake (Vintage… Continue reading Book Review – Crow Lake by Mary Lawson
Month: February 2014
Book Review – The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
Harold Fry goes down the street to mail a letter and ends of walking across England. This is the basic plot of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (Bond Street Books, 2012) and it has many of the hallmarks of a classic hero quest. Harold is a decent guy, recently retired, married to Maureen, father… Continue reading Book Review – The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
El Bachelore – What Went Wrong?
I've reached the point with The Bachelor that I reach in just about every season. Boredom. I enjoy the first few episodes and I enjoy the last couple of episodes but in the middle...you lose me. Next week is Hometown Dates which I always enjoy so I think I will likely be back to recapping… Continue reading El Bachelore – What Went Wrong?
Book Review – Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
After years of my life spent in bookstores, I was excited to read Robin Sloan's first novel, Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore (Harper Perennial, 2012). It was, therefore, disappointing to discover that the story I thought was about books was actually an ode to technology. To the point that I began to wonder if this novel… Continue reading Book Review – Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
Happy Made-Up Long Weekend!
Here in British Columbia, we have this new holiday that we get to celebrate every February. It's called Family Day. I can't think of it without being reminded of that Simpsons upside where the card companies make up Love Day. Nonetheless, it's a stat holiday in February, so I'm really not complaining. It's been uncharacteristically… Continue reading Happy Made-Up Long Weekend!
In Which I Cook A Large Piece of Meat
Recently, I cooked a roast by myself for the first time. It was an exciting and nerve-wracking time. While pot roast is not on my list of top ten favourite foods, it still seems like one of those "Things an Adult Should Know How to Do". So I chose a day that I had off… Continue reading In Which I Cook A Large Piece of Meat
Book Review – I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak
Having previously read The Book Thief, I should have suspected that Markus Zusak is not a straightforward novel writer. Yet the conclusion of I Am The Messenger (Knopf, 2005) still came as a surprise to me. Ed Kennedy is a nineteen-year-old cabdriver. He's from the rough side of town and he's on the right track… Continue reading Book Review – I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak
El Bachelore – Episode 5
Like I've said previously, I knew nothing about our Bachelor going into this season. Five episodes in, I'm ready to form my opinion. I don't like him. Let's delve into why. We're in Vietnam and there are eleven ladies left. "This is, like, nature! It's water, trees, sun!" - Clare describes Vietnam. And what nature… Continue reading El Bachelore – Episode 5
Searching for the Polar Vortex
While most of the continent seems to be cursing the polar vortex and staying inside, it's been sunny and (relatively) warm around here, so this weekend Peter and I went in search of snow.We found it.A little off-roading, a little ditch-crossing, and a lot of mud-splattering but found snow.We followed the tracks of some four-pawed… Continue reading Searching for the Polar Vortex
Karissa Reads Books 