Category: Book Reviews

What I Read – April 2015

Karissa4 Comments

The First Person and Other Stories by Ali Smith (Hamish Hamilton, 2008) I once tried to read a novel by Ali Smith, lost interest part way in and returned it unfinished to the library. I did finish reading this short story collection but now, less than a month later, can't remember much about it. I… Continue reading What I Read – April 2015

What I Read – February and March 2015

Karissa2 Comments

Daddy Lenin and Other Stories - Guy Vanderhaeghe (McClelland & Stewart, 2015) I've read one book by Guy Vanderhaeghe (The Englishman's Boy) and, honestly, remember almost nothing about it. This short story collection focuses mostly on men, usually working class. They are well-crafted stories but I did find them repetitive. The Thing Around Your Neck… Continue reading What I Read – February and March 2015

What I Read – January 2015

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Since weekly book reviews seem to be something I can't accomplish right now, I thought I'd post mini-reviews of everything I read this past month. January's been busy but I managed to squeeze in a fair amount of reading and finished 9 books. The Birth House - Ami McKay (Vintage Canada, 2006) I did write… Continue reading What I Read – January 2015

Book Review – The Birth House by Ami McKay

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"Why would you read a book like that right now?" was Peter's reaction when I told him I'd just finished reading a novel about birth and midwives in the early 20th century. "I'm not sure," I had to admit. "But it wasn't scary." Partly, I think, I read The Birth House (Vintage Canada, 2007) now… Continue reading Book Review – The Birth House by Ami McKay

Book Review – Butterflies in November by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir

Karissa2 Comments

Butterflies in November (Black Cat, 2014) is an Icelandic novel first published in 2004 but only recently translated into English. What is this book about? A woman's husband announces his desire to divorce him. She cooks a goose. She goes on a road trip with her friend's child (for some reason). She meets some men.… Continue reading Book Review – Butterflies in November by Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir

Book Review – Alone in the Classroom by Elizabeth Hay

Karissa5 Comments

Alone in the Classroom (Emblem 2011) begins with a murder and the tension grows from there. In fact, the rate of revelation and tension in this novel is infinitely impressive. Our narrator, Anne, begins with the story of the death of a young girl, occurring when her own mother was young. It is also the… Continue reading Book Review – Alone in the Classroom by Elizabeth Hay

Book Review – To Rise Again at a Decent Hour by Joshua Ferris

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A couple of chapters in and To Rise Again at a Decent Hour (Little, Brown & Co, 2014) began to make me feel like I need to book a dentist appointment. Though probably not with Paul O'Rourke, the main character, narrator, and dentist of the novel. Paul is outwardly successful - he owns his dental… Continue reading Book Review – To Rise Again at a Decent Hour by Joshua Ferris

Book Review – A Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans

Karissa2 Comments

This is a book I've been wanting to read for a long time and it did not disappoint. I was familiar with Rachel Held Evans' writing through her blog - mostly posts circulated by friends. And while I've never followed it religiously (pun!) I've generally appreciated what I've read from Evans. A Year of Biblical… Continue reading Book Review – A Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans

Book Review – Seven Good Reasons Not to be Good by John Gould

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I liked this book more than I expected to. And while that may not sound like the highest praise, it's meant to be a compliment. I knew almost nothing about the title when I picked up a copy at the thrift store, except that I had taken a single semester with John Gould as professor … Continue reading Book Review – Seven Good Reasons Not to be Good by John Gould