My Sister, the Serial Killer - Oyinkan Braithwaite (Anchor Books, 2018) This book was not what I expected. For some reason, I thought the serial killer sister was more of a metaphor but no, our main character and narrator's sister is, in fact, a serial killer. A serial killer, we learn, is defined as someone… Continue reading Book Review: My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Half Magic - Edward Eager (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016) This is a sweet, old-fashioned story about four siblings who discover a magic coin. The eldest, Jane, picks it up on the sidewalk one day and quickly discovers it grants wishes. Except that it only grants half the wish. So when Jane wishes for a fire,… Continue reading Book Review: Half Magic by Edward Eager
As I read through K.D. Miller's short story collection, I began to create a web of characters, drawing lines between the names that appeared on the pages of various stories. The stories are linked in the most satisfying type of way. Existing in the same world, primarily taking place in Hamilton or Sackville, the characters… Continue reading Book Review: Late Breaking by K.D. Miller
Grand Union - Zadie Smith (Penguin Press, 2019) I received an Advance Uncorrected Proof of this book. All opinions are my own. I've read three other books by Zadie Smith and have always sort of generally enjoyed her writing but never been quite wowed by it. (My unpopular opinion is that I liked The Embassy… Continue reading Book Review: Grand Union by Zadie Smith
Everything Under - Daisy Johnson (Jonathan Cape, 2018) It's no coincidence that the main character and narrator of Everything Under is named Gretel. The name instantly conjures up a picture of a lost little girl. One stumbling through the forest, abandoned by her parents, in the clutches of a witch. But also the little girl… Continue reading Book Review: Everything Under by Daisy Johnson
Go Set a Watchman - Harper Lee (Harper Collins, 2015) After reading Furious Hours by Casey Cepabout Harper Lee's life and career, I decided to re-read To Kill a Mockingbird and then to finally read Go Set a Watchman. Like many others, I read To Kill a Mockingbird in high school. And like many others… Continue reading Book Review: Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee
Furious Hours - Casey Cep (Alfred A. Knopf, 2019) It's the topic of Harper Lee that will draw most readers to this non-fiction book but it's Casey Cep's strong and even narration and detailed research, as well as the fascinating story of murder, that will keep them reading. I had heard about Furious Hours but… Continue reading Book Review: Furious Hours by Casey Cep
The Giller Prize (sorry, The Scotiabank Giller Prize) is, arguably, the major literary prize in the Canadian book scene. The Giller Prize has been awarded annually since 1994 and the winner is now awarded $100,000. When Michael Redhill won in 2017, he shared a picture of his bank statement on social media, demonstrating just how… Continue reading The Giller Prize 2019: Longlist
Read: We Went to the Woods - Caite Dolan-Leach (Random House, 2019) Black Light - Kimberly King Parsons ( Vintage Books, 2019) All the Bad Apples - Moira Fowley-Doyle (Kathy Dawson Books, 2019) As Many Nows as I Can Get - Shana Youngdahl (Dial Books, 2019) My Conversations with Canadians - Lee Maracle (BookThug, 2017)… Continue reading What I Read – August 2019
We Went to the Woods - Caite Dolan-Leach (Random House, 2019) Have you ever wanted to escape from the world? From your life? Have you ever been young and a bit desperate? Have you ever fallen in love with the idea of a person rather than truly the person themselves? You might sympathize with Mack… Continue reading Book Review: We Went to the Woods by Caite Dolan-Leach
Karissa Reads Books 