I plucked this novel off the library shelf based solely on the fact that the blurb on the cover was from Esi Edugyan, an author whose work I admire. While the story didn't quite live up to my expectations it was still an interestingly-told tale. Our narrator is Ashe, fifteen years old, and the story… Continue reading Book Review: I Carried You Home by Alan Gibney
I started (an attempt at least) to read a Psalm before bed every night in the fall. So it seemed like the perfect time to read this lesser known work of C.S. Lewis. In typical, self-deprecating Lewis fashion, he begins by explaining why he's not really qualified but here are some of his thoughts anyway.… Continue reading Book Review: Reflections on the Psalms by C.S. Lewis
I wasn't familiar with Paul Beatty's work before this past year when he became the first American to win the Man Booker Prize. Once I heard a little more about his style, I was eager to read The Sellout and it happily did not disappoint. The Sellout is satirical, uncomfortable, entertaining, eye-opening, and sometimes confusing.… Continue reading Book Review: The Sellout by Paul Beatty (Picador, 2015)
In post-Civil War Texas, the world is still a rough and lawless place. Information spreads slowly and divides run deep and dangerous. Captain Kidd - a veteran of two wars and a witness of more - travels from town to town and reads the news. In our world of instant information it's difficult to imagine… Continue reading Book Review: News of the World by Paulette Jiles
Having read Room a few years ago, this is my second read from Emma Donoghue. Although vastly different stories they share a powerful sense of tension and showcase how compelling a writer Donoghue is. Lib Wright arives in a tiny, rural Irish town, hired from England as a private nurse for exactly two weeks. Trained… Continue reading Book Review: The Wonder by Emma Donoghue
I picked this book up several times, read the blurb on the back, and put it back before I finally decided to read it. What turned me off was the description of the main character, Harriet, as "11 going on 30"; in general, I don't enjoy stories about overly precocious, wise-beyond-their-years children. What eventually turned… Continue reading Book Review: On the Shores of Darkness, There is Light by Cordelia Strube
This 20th century Christmas fable comes from the author of Mary Poppins and offers a similar quaint story with a British flavour. The story is really made up of two parts - the opening set is set on Christmas Eve at St. Paul's Cathedral. The first Christmas Eve service since the end of World War… Continue reading Book Review: The Fox at the Manger by P.L. Travers
So many questions are raised by this story of a young man - Stanley - who sets out from his small town and takes the first job offered to him. Why does he only go the next (also small) town? Why does he expect finding work to be so easy? Why is this story even… Continue reading Book Review: The Bellman by Heidi Barnes
I have yet to see The Crucible in its play form so it feels a bit unfair to judge what is only a script. I have no doubt that the play is more compelling when seen than when read. Because, let me tell you, it's not that compelling when read. This is primarily the fault… Continue reading Book Review: The Crucible by Arthur Miller
One of the great powers of fiction is to bring history alive. A good, well-written novel can teach the reader more than ten history books. And may access find readers who would never pick up a history book. Like many in North America, I know very little about Chechnya. It's history is long and complicated… Continue reading Book Review: A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra
