Initially, when I put together my (almost entirely arbitrary) categories for the First Annual Karissa Reads Books Literary Awards, I called this category Best Book From a Canadian Author. But as I looked over the titles I had nominated I realized that a lot of them were showing up in other categories and that Warlight and Washington Black were… Continue reading Best Canadian Book
Tag: Recommended Reading
Best Book Written by Someone I Know
This category came to life when I was looking over the books I read in 2018 and realized how many were written by people I knew in real life. Having done a Writing degree and worked in the book industry I've worked, learned, and been taught by some fantastic writers. I did not include writers… Continue reading Best Book Written by Someone I Know
Best Book From an Author I’ve Read Before
Today's category is the opposite of yesterday's. These are books from authors I've read and (obviously) enjoyed previously and so searched out further writing from them. Honourable Mention: Lila- Marilynne Robinson (Harper Collins, 2014) Rules of Civility - Amor Towles (Penguin Books, 2011) Indian Horse - Richard Wagamese (Douglas & McIntyre, 2012) Washington Black - Esi Edugyan (Patrick… Continue reading Best Book From an Author I’ve Read Before
Best Book From a New-to-Me Author
Welcome to the next instalment of Karissa Reads Books 2018 Literary Awards! Today's category covers authors with an established body of work (ie: more than one published book) but someone I've never read before. Basically, if I read a book and promptly added that author's complete works to my To Read list, they get a… Continue reading Best Book From a New-to-Me Author
The First Annual Karissa Reads Books Literary Awards
That's an ambitious title. And maybe a more honest one would be The First (Maybe?) Annual Karissa Reads Books Awards of Some Books I Read This Year. But that doesn't sound so impressive. This idea is blatantly inspired by FictionFan's Annual (really) Awards that are far more organized than mine (so you should check them… Continue reading The First Annual Karissa Reads Books Literary Awards
Book Review: A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth
My copy of this book had 1,474 pages. It is divided into 19 sections. The actions of the story takes place over approximately a year, beginning and ending with a wedding. It takes place in three or four cities (and more regions) and has multiple family trees at the beginning to help the reader keep… Continue reading Book Review: A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth
Book Review: Our Homesick Songs
I can faintly recall, as a child, watching the national news, noticing a lot of talk about fishing out east. The lack of fish, the death of an industry and a lifestyle. It was my own country but very far away and very removed from my own city childhood on the opposite coast. In 1992,… Continue reading Book Review: Our Homesick Songs
Book Review: Refuge by Merilyn Simonds
I received this book from ECW Press. All opinions are my own. Refuge is a novel about, well, refuge. How do we seek refuge? How do we give it? Who do we offer refuge to? At the centre of the novel is Cass. In the present tense of the story, Cass is 96-years-old, living alone on… Continue reading Book Review: Refuge by Merilyn Simonds
Book Recommendations for the Sometimes Reader
Today is Peter's birthday! He recently found himself without a book to read and so asked me to make five suggestions for him. His criteria was simply that they be books we already own. In honour of Peter's birthday, and because it's something different, I thought I'd share the list (plus the longlist because I'm… Continue reading Book Recommendations for the Sometimes Reader
Book Review: The Boat People by Sharon Bala
I almost didn't finish this book. It is well-written, well-researched, and compelling. It was shortlisted for the most recent Canada Reads competition. I'd read several very positive reviews. (Anne's over at ivereadthis.com forced me to move the book up my To Read list.) I did finish The Boat People and I'm glad I did but it was… Continue reading Book Review: The Boat People by Sharon Bala
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