The Boy From the Sea by Garrett Carr (Picador, 2025) It's always a delight to read a debut novel from an author who already displays a strong voice or an aptitude for trying something new. That was the case with reading this debut novel from Garrett Carr, The Boy From the Sea. The book isn't… Continue reading Book Review: The Boy From the Sea by Garrett Carr
Pandora's Jar - Natalie Haynes (Harper Perennial, 2020) There's been a real trend in recent years of feminist retellings of Greek myths. (Some personal favourites come from Pat Barker and Madeline Miller and I've also enjoyed the novels I've read from Natalie Haynes.) All of these retellings assume a basic familiarity with the Greek myths… Continue reading Book Review: Pandora’s Jar by Natalie Haynes
Property Values - Charles Demers (Arsenal Pulp Press, 2018) Scott Clark can't afford to buy out the house he grew up in from his ex-father-in-law and so, in an attempt to drive the property value down and gain himself some time, he enlists his two best buddies to stage a drive-by shooting on his quiet… Continue reading Book Review: Property Values by Charles Demers
A Circle of Quiet - Madeleine L'Engle (Harper Collins, 1972) It's hard to know how to classify this gentle non-fiction book. It's part collection of essays, part journal entries. It's the thoughts and pondering of a 50-something year-old-woman, a wife and mother, who has had some success as a writer. There is some space given… Continue reading Book Review: A Circle of Quiet by Madeleine L’Engle
Make Believe - Mac Barnett (Little Brown & Co, 2026) I really like Mac Barnett's picture books for kids - Sam & Dave Dig a Hole is a favourite - so when I saw that he was coming out with a book about writing stories for children, I was interested. I already had my copy… Continue reading Book Review: Make Believe by Mac Barnett
Land - Maggie O'Farrell (Alfred A. Knopf, 2026) This book was a definite slow burn for me. I was excited when I heard that O'Farrell had a new book out this year. I've read her two most recent before this - Hamnet and The Marriage Portrait, as well as an older title, The Hand that… Continue reading Book Review: Land by Maggie O’Farrell
Enormous Wings - Laurie Frankel (Henry Holt and Company, 2026) Pepper Mills didn't choose to stop driving or to movie into Vista View Retirement Community. Those were the choices of her adult children. But, opting to make the best of it, she begins to make friends and even starts up a romantic connection with her… Continue reading Book Review: Enormous Wings by Laurie Frankel
Whistler - Ann Patchett (Harper, 2026) I really love Ann Patchett and every time she releases a new book, I find myself delighted that I am living at the same time that one of my favourite writers is writing. (I also really love her as independent bookseller but that is a conversation for another time.)… Continue reading Book Review: Whistler by Ann Patchett
Nobody Asked for This - Georgia Toews (Anchor Canada, 2026) I might not have picked this book up if it weren't for the fact that Georgia Toews will be one of the featured authors at my local Writers Festival this summer. I'm glad I did though because I found this novel to be a fresh… Continue reading Book Review: Nobody Asked for This by Georgia Toews
I can't think of any book that I've read before that felt so compelling and so long at the same time. This one took me a while to get through and it wasn't all easy but I desperately wanted to find out what would happen. Our protagonist is a soldier who has lost his memory.… Continue reading Book Review: The Remembered Soldier by Anjet Daanje
Karissa Reads Books 