The First Annual Asian-Canadian Literature Challenge

There always seem to be a myriad of reading challenges to participate in in the book blogging and reading world. And while I often enjoy following along with the journeys of other book bloggers as they seek to fulfill these reading challenges, I'm not often drawn to participate in them myself. Primarily because I feel… Continue reading The First Annual Asian-Canadian Literature Challenge

2021 Highlights: Week 1

I want to make a habit this year of sharing a few highlights and updates, as I always enjoy when other bloggers do this and it can help keep my mind focused on the positive. It feels a bit strange to begin on such a week, when the news is full of chaos and unrest,… Continue reading 2021 Highlights: Week 1

Book Review: What Kind of Woman by Kate Baer

What Kind of Woman: Poems - Kate Baer (Harper Perennial, 2020) Kate Baer's debut poetry collection is full of short, punchy poems. They are about women - friends, mothers, wives - and often about how women navigate a world of men. They are sometimes advice, sometimes for a friend or a daughter. My particular favourite… Continue reading Book Review: What Kind of Woman by Kate Baer

What I Read – 2020

Here's where I share my entire reading list for the year as well as a few observations. Primarily for my own interest but feel free to let me know how it compares to your reading year or if we read some (or a lot) of the same books! Some stats on my 2020 reading: Read… Continue reading What I Read – 2020

What I Read – December 2020

Read: A Book of Good Stories - edited by G. Fred McNally (The MacMillan Company of Canada, 1934) Say Nothing - Patrick Radden Keefe (Doubleday, 2019) Under Milk Wood - Dylan Thomas (J.M. Dent & Sons, 1970) Short Stories Read: (see note below) Yermolai and the Miller's Wife - Ivan Turgenev (3 stars) A Day… Continue reading What I Read – December 2020

Book Review: Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe

Say Nothing - Patrick Radden Keefe (Doubleday, 2019) Patrick Radden Keefe's delve into the history of the Irish Troubles is immensely readable and formative. This isn't a topic that particularly grabs my attention and as such is one I know very little about. I can recall, as a child, hearing about Ireland or seeing snippets… Continue reading Book Review: Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe

Christmas 2020

There are obviously many ways that Christmas has looked different for our family this year. We feel very fortunate to have our girls - little kids bring a certain magic to the Christmas holidays and have kept us focused on celebratory things. One (non-COVID difference) for us this year was getting to look forward to… Continue reading Christmas 2020

Best Fiction – The Third Annual Karissa Reads Books Literary Awards

Fiction being what I read the most of, I always feel like the Best Fiction category is the best reflection of my favourite books of the year and I would say this year is no exception. So far this year I've read 62 novels. I narrowed the least down to sixteen, then down to five,… Continue reading Best Fiction – The Third Annual Karissa Reads Books Literary Awards

Life Lately: Lockdown Week ???

We're somewhere around 5 or 6 weeks into this current lockdown. About two weeks ago it was extended to January 8th and while I don't believe that the government is (or even has the power to) cancelling Christmas, there have been the ups and downs of emotions surrounding that announcement. We are, however, very fortunate,… Continue reading Life Lately: Lockdown Week ???