Moccasin Square Gardens - Richard Van Camp (Douglas & McIntyre, 2019) The words that come to mind when I think about this collection of short stories are "delightfully weird". Aliens, small towns, Indigenous politics, and aliens. I really don't know what to compare this to because I don't think I've ever read a collection quite… Continue reading Book Review: Moccasin Square Gardens by Richard Van Camp
A Mind Spread Out on the Ground - Alicia Elliott (Doubleday Canada, 2019) I'm hesitant to write a review of A Mind Spread out on the Ground. Not because I didn't enjoy it - I really did, sneaking sessions of reading throughout my day and after my kids were in bed. Elliott's writing is concise… Continue reading Book Review: A Mind Spread Out on the Ground by Alicia Elliott
Carry Me - Peter Behrens (Anansi, 2016) One word that comes to mind when I think of Carry Me is "ambitious". A novel covering two world wars, as well as the complex period between them. A novel covering this period over England, Germany, Ireland, and even a bit of America. It's a lot and it… Continue reading Book Review: Carry Me by Peter Behrens
The Night Tiger - Yangsze Choo (Flatiron Books, 2019) The Night Tiger first come on my radar when I read FictionFan's review of it (read it here). Right away I knew it sounded like a book I'd enjoy. A bit of Chinese/South Asian history, a bit of magic realism. I'm happy to say the book… Continue reading Book Review: The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo
The Lesser Bohemians - Eimear McBride (McClelland & Stewart, 2016) In the early pages of The Lesser Bohemians I came very close to giving up on this book. What's wrong with the Irish? I thought, the stream of conscious writing reminding me Ulysses. Instead, I slowed my reading down until I was able to fall… Continue reading Book Review: The Lesser Bohemians by Eimear McBride
American War - Omar El Akkad (McClelland & Stewart, 2017) American War is a dystopian-style novel set in the near future of the United States. The very near future, as in 2074. For me, this was one of the most disconcerting and powerful aspects of the novel. In 2074 I'll be eighty-nine. It's not unreasonable… Continue reading Book Review: American War by Omar El Akkad
Lanny - Max Porter (Strange Light, 2019) Where to start with a book like Lanny? Creepy. Mythical. Magical. Beautiful. Horrifying. Poetic. Tragic. True. All of these are words that come to mind as I think back to reading Max Porter's very weird, poetic novel. It's fantastical - one of the characters is a mythical, shape-shifting,… Continue reading Book Review: Lanny by Max Porter
