For young readers looking for a new and fun fantasy series to launch into, Peterson's Wingfeather Saga might be a perfect fit. Goofy and adventurous, the first book in this quartet, At the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, has lots going for it. Set in the land of Skree, overtaken in recent years… Continue reading Book Review: At the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson
This post-apocalytic story has several unique features that make it stand out from the usual fare in this increasingly popular genre. The apocalypse here is brought about by the Georgian Flu, a virus with an insanely quick incubation period and a fatality rate of approximately 99%. The novel follows three intersecting stories and timelines: Before,… Continue reading Book Review: Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
Grief is a strange, lurking beast. While I'm prepared for it in many ways, it surprises me at so many other moments. Sometimes I can ready myself, steel my thoughts against it. And sometimes it simply appears. Pearl and I went to get our flu shots today and I'd forgotten one of the questions they… Continue reading Monday Thoughts
I'm not sure why I haven't read many short story collections this year but that seems to be what happened. I'm happy to make amends with Leesa Dean's debut collection. For me, the mark of a good short story is one which, when it ends, causes me to pause and look around for a minute… Continue reading Book Review: Waiting for the Cyclone by Leesa Dean
Yesterday evening Pearl went trick-or-treating for the first time ever. She also ate candy for the first time so all in all, it was a very big day. We weren't sure what we were going to do with Pearl this year. Knowing there will be many years ahead of us where she's eager to trick-or-treat… Continue reading Halloween 2016
The Autumn season is prime book-reading time. The rainy and cold weather means I want to stay inside and read and there seem to be so many books to read. The autumn is when many new books are released (leading up to Christmas) and many of the major literary prize winners (and shortlists) are announced.… Continue reading What I Read – October 2016
The Glass Castle exploded onto the scene of the book world - Jeannette Walls' hugely popular memoir of her unconventional childhood. Many cite Walls as the first in a growing trend of memoirs from "average" people (ie: not celebrities). A huge part of Walls' memoir (and its appeal) were her parents, especially her mother, Rosemary.… Continue reading Book Review: Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls
When a friend loaned me a copy of The Dirty Life I wasn't that excited. I don't read a lot of memoirs and it's rare that they appeal to me. My friend also happens to be a little more of a hippy than I am and I wasn't sure I was interested in reading a… Continue reading Book Review: The Dirty Life by Kristin Kimball
Please enjoy this picture of my child posing with an apple from which she has taken several tiny bites: Also, she chose to wear that romper over top of the clothes I had dressed her in. I did not expect battles over clothing to begin so early in our mother-daughter relationship. Every September I feel… Continue reading Autumn Leaves and Gumboots
My initial reaction and concern upon reading the tagline of this book - "The true story of an 11-year-old panhandler, a busy sales executive, and an unlikely meeting with destiny" - was that it would turn out to be a sort of "white saviour" story. Wealthy white women meets young black boy and his life… Continue reading Book Review: An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff & Alex Tresniowski
Karissa Reads Books 