Joan of the Arcane - Alexandra Fleder (She Writes Press, 2026) My pet conspiracy theory is that the local Dominos Pizza hires drivers to drive around with marked cars, even when they aren't actually delivering pizzas. My theory is that they do this to make people think they're delivering a lot of pizzas and so… Continue reading Book Review: Joan of the Arcane by Alexandra Fleder
I read several books in July and August that I don't feel like I have enough to say to warrant full book reviews. At the same time, and in an effort to bring my 10 Books of Summer Challenge to a close, I do want to share a few thoughts. The Rise and Fall of… Continue reading 10 Books of Summer: Thoughts on Some Recent Reads
The Boy From the Sea by Garrett Carr (Picador, 2025) It's always a delight to read a debut novel from an author who already displays a strong voice or an aptitude for trying something new. That was the case with reading this debut novel from Garrett Carr, The Boy From the Sea. The book isn't… Continue reading Book Review: The Boy From the Sea by Garrett Carr
Summer 2026 has been a bit of a strange one for our family. At the beginning of July, not even a full week into summer holidays, Pearl fractured her ankle and has spent the summer in a cast. This meant a lot of our usual summer plans - hiking, camping, days at the beach -… Continue reading 2026: End of Summer Highlights
In these posts I hope to share a little about what I am reading with my two children. Not exactly a review but a look at a book we’ve read together and how it worked for us. For context, my daughters are currently 8- and 11-years old. They are both excellent independent readers but we… Continue reading Reading with Pearl & Rose: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Pandora's Jar - Natalie Haynes (Harper Perennial, 2020) There's been a real trend in recent years of feminist retellings of Greek myths. (Some personal favourites come from Pat Barker and Madeline Miller and I've also enjoyed the novels I've read from Natalie Haynes.) All of these retellings assume a basic familiarity with the Greek myths… Continue reading Book Review: Pandora’s Jar by Natalie Haynes
Back for this year's Sunshine Coast Trail adventure update, we have Guest Writer Peter! This year we finished reading The Lord the Rings trilogy to the girls at bed time. There's a definite appeal to having a singular goal each day: keep walking until you find Mt. Doom. I find that I'm often easily distracted… Continue reading Guest Post: The Sunshine Coast Trail 2026 – Sarah Point to the Shingle Mill
Read: Prophet Song - Paul Lynch (Grove Press, 2023) Pandora's Jar - Natalie Haynes (Harper Perennial, 2020) Damned If I Do - Percival Everett (Dreamscape Media, 2026) Kingfisher - Rozie Kelly (Saraband, 2025) Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - J.K. Rowling (Bloomsbury, 2000) The Boy From the Sea - Garrett Carr (Picador, 2025)… Continue reading What I Read – August 2026
Shooting Up - Jonathan Tepper (Constable, 2026) In the 1980s, the Tepper family moved from the United States to Madrid as Christian missionaries. Husband and wife and their four young sons. There they began working with addicts and started a rehab for heroin addicts, many of whom were HIV+ at the height of the AIDS… Continue reading Book Review: Shooting Up by Jonathan Tepper
Read: A Circle of Quiet - Madeleine L'Engle (Harper Collins, 1972) The Rise & Fall of Great Powers - Tom Rachman (Anchor Canada, 2014) The Good Eye - Jess Gibson (Knopf Canada, 2026) City Like Water - Dorothy Tse (Gray Wolf Press, 2026) (translated from Chinese by Natascha Bruce) The Witch - Marie Ndiaye (Vintage… Continue reading What I Read: July 2026
Karissa Reads Books 