The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller (Ecco, 2012) The story of the Trojan War has been told countless times and in countless ways. It's amazing that a tale so old and so familiar can still be compelling and yet Madeline Miller had me rushing through this novel to find out what happens. (Warning: This… Continue reading Book Review: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Happy September! Rising vaccination rates. When the vaccine passport in BC was announced, I honestly was skeptical that it would make much difference. Surely, everyone who wanted to be vaccinated had already been? Surely, restaurants and sporting events weren't enough of an incentive if public health and science hadn't convinced someone? I'm glad to be… Continue reading 2021 Highlights: Week 36
I received an Advance Reader's Copy from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own. What Strange Paradise ends with such a gut punch that it's almost impossible to think back over the novel without thinking of it in light of those final lines. At the same time,… Continue reading Book Review: What Strange Paradise by Omar El Akkad
Read: What Strange Paradise - Omar El Akkad (Penguin Random House Canada, 2021) Interior Chinatown - Charles Yu (Pantheon Books, 2020) A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens (Bantam Book, 1989) The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller (Ecco, 2012) Blanket Toss Under Midnight Sun - Paul Seesequasis (Alfred A. Knopf Canada, 2019) Front… Continue reading What I Read – August 2021
Hello! I didn't intend to take August off from my weekly highlights post but here we are. Let's catch up! August started off with a bang for our family as we made a trip to Vancouver Island. Bright and early on August 1st (the 6:20 am ferry, to be exact) we were on our way… Continue reading 2021 Highlights: August
Interior Chinatown - Charles Yu When it comes to a book like Interior Chinatown where the author is creating something so unique and different, I'm able to forgive a lot even when there are other weaknesses in the work. Charles Yu uses film tropes and a screenplay style on the page to tell the story… Continue reading Book Review: Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu
A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens (Bantam Books, 1989) A Tale of Two Cities was only the second book by Charles Dickens that I ever read. In the years since, I've read several more but still have always claimed A Tale as my favourite work of Dickens. Re-reading it now, probably a decade… Continue reading Book Review: A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens (A Virtuous Reading Challenge)
Read: The Devil and the Dark Water - Stuart Turton (HarperCollins Publishers, 2020) Made in China - Anna Qu (Catapult, 2021) Transcendent Kingdom - Yaa Gyasi (Bond Street Books, 2020) Notes on Grief - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Alfred A. Knopf, 2021) Did Not Finish: Floating City - Kerri Sakamoto I picked this up because it… Continue reading What I Read – July 2021
This past week we made our annual camping trip to Keats Island. Peter and I have been camping there countless times before (him especially) and this marked our 5th year camping with the girls. (See 2020, 2019, 2018, and 2016. 2017 is conspicuously missing but my excuse is that I was severely pregnant for much… Continue reading 2021 Highlights: Week 30 (Keats Island Edition)
Hi there! We've had a really fantastic summer week around here, enjoying our new kayak and this beautiful place we live. This week has been: Monday: We tested out the kayak by paddling across Sechelt Inlet to Piper Point. The girls and I had never been there before but Peter camped with friends at this… Continue reading 2021 Highlights: Week 29
Karissa Reads Books 