Having previously read Michael Redhill's Consolation, and having found it a bit boring, I wasn't all that excited for his latest novel. But it sounded interesting enough that when I had the chance of getting an advanced copy, I decided to take it. I'm happy to report that it's definitely not boring. Jean is a… Continue reading Book Review – Bellevue Square by Michael Redhill
Bellevue Square - Michael Redhill (Doubleday Canada, 2017) A Gentleman in Moscow - Amor Towles (Viking, 2016) The End We Start From - Megan Hunter (Hamish Hamilton, 2017) Ghost Warning - Kara Stanley (Caitlin Press, 2017) Winter's Tale - Mark Helprin (A Harvest Book, 1983) All rivers run full to the sea; those who are apart are brought together; the… Continue reading What I Read – October 2017
"This book is so weird," was my almost constant thought as I read Lost in September. It wasn't until I was around three quarters of the way through that I felt I had a handle on what I was supposed to believe/see. Sometimes that made for a frustrating reading experience but overall, Winter handles it… Continue reading Book Review: Lost in September by Kathleen Winter
I wasn't sure about reading this short novella, about a woman who has a baby as London is flooded and she is forced to flee her home, while at home with my own newborn baby. The good news is the book is not disturbing or upsetting. The bad news is it's not much of anything.… Continue reading Book Review: The End We Start From by Megan Hunter
This collection of short stories focuses primarily on adolescent girls. The stories are compelling and readable and not at all familiar with my experience of being a teenage girl. Which isn't to say that they don't ring true but by the time I got to the end of the collection, it felt like the intensity… Continue reading Book Review: How to Breathe Underwater by Julie Orringer
I'm not sure that Pearl has ever actually seen a train but she sure seems to enjoy stories about them. And there seem to be multiple classic children's books revolving around trains. Our story selection tends toward mid-20th century and I'm having trouble thinking of more modern train stories. Any suggestions? Pearl's favourite of these… Continue reading Reading with Pearl: Train Edition
One of the signs of a compelling book for me is when I want to tell other people all about it. Or when I lay awake after reading it, thinking over various parts. All We Leave Behind did both. Carol Off is a well-respected CBC journalist with a long career. (For those non-Canadians, that's the… Continue reading Book Review: All We Leave Behind by Carol Off
Someone recommended this book to me and I was drawn in by the lovely cover and was excited to read this story based on Russian myth and lore. While it didn't match my high expectations, it was a readable and enjoyable story and a twist on a fairy tale that might not be familiar to… Continue reading Book Review: The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
In this novel, Brian Payton explores a lesser known portion of World War II history - the Japanese invasion of Alaska. At least, this was unknown to me and I consider myself decently informed. Our main character is John Easely, a journalist who has snuck his way into the Aleutian Islands where the native peoples… Continue reading Book Review: The Wind is Not a River by Brian Payton
I bought this book as a gift for a seven-year-old I know so the true test will be whether or not she enjoys it. In the meantime, here are my thoughts. Jaundice and Kale are sisters who enjoy looking at wallpaper, watching grass grow, and eating plain cheese sandwiches. Their parents went out to run… Continue reading Book Review: The Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters (Book One): The Jolly Regina by Kara LaReau
Karissa Reads Books 