Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn This is a charming little story about an imaginary town called Nollop. Nollop is named after Nevin Nollop the gentleman responsible for the phrase “The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog”. In fact, there is an impressive statue of Nevin in the middle of the town square … Continue reading Ella Minnow Pea
Author: Lisa Helm
Things in Jars
Things in Jars by Jess Kidd I read this novel in a day. And it wasn’t because it was practising social distancing and had nowhere to go and nothing to do (ok, maybe that was a smidge of the reason). But mostly it was the kind of novel where I had to put life on … Continue reading Things in Jars
Washington Black
Washington Black by Esi Edugan (warning...just a wee bit of spoilers but there is SO MUCH MORE then what I’m about to tell you!) The action of this novel takes us to drastically different locations all over the world: Barbados, Virginia, the Arctic, Nova Scotia, London, Amsterdam, Morocco. Our main character’s name is Washington Black. … Continue reading Washington Black
The Fact of A Body
Audiobook the Fact of a Body Written and Narrated by Alexandria Marzano Lisnevich I run. My choice of listening when I run consists of a dog’s breakfast of musical choices (everything from monks singing Gregorian Chants to Heavy Metal) and audiobooks. A year ago I had a wonderful season of winter running where I listened … Continue reading The Fact of A Body
What to Read During Social Distancing
What interesting times we live in! For those of you who are looking for book titles for kiddos in junior and senior high, I've compiled a list of books I've read and recommend and a few titles I haven't read but were recommended by various publishing houses and educational websites. Weblinks for more information concerning … Continue reading What to Read During Social Distancing
The Paragon Hotel
The Paragon Hotel was the selection for my February book club. I love Lyndsay Faye. It is always wonderful to find an author who not only writes a good suspenseful yarn but also a writer who has a delightful way with words. Although the Paragon Hotel is a story filled with murder, robbery, and disguise, … Continue reading The Paragon Hotel
I Am Afraid of Men
I’m Afraid of Men Vivek Shraya “The experience of repeatedly being stared at slowly mutated me into an alien” (pg 2) I cannot express how profoundly important it is to read this book. It is a short, honest, heartwrenching read. The strength of spirit Vivek has built because of the lifetime of intimidation is noteworthy … Continue reading I Am Afraid of Men
The Unexpected Spy
I was lucky enough to be sent an advanced copy of The Unexpected Spy through Macmillan and Netgalley. This is the true story of a young woman’s experience being recruited by the CIA right out of university and getting immersed into the world of searching for terrorist activity. She then makes a move to the … Continue reading The Unexpected Spy
The Bridge of Clay
The Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak “Us Dunbar boys. From oldest to youngest: Me, Rory, Henry, Clayton, Thomas. We would never be the same...I should tell you what we were like: Many considered us tearaways. Barbarians. Mostly they were right: Our mother was dead Our father had fled” (14-15). I was afraid to read … Continue reading The Bridge of Clay
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
Every once in a while I find a treasure. Actually, I went seeking this treasure. I Googled “Best books of 2019”, and up popped The Boy, The Mole, the Fox and the Horse. I thought I’d find it in the children’s section, but bookstore had it shelved under “graphic novel”. Truthfully, there should be a … Continue reading The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
142 Ostriches by April Davila
I read this novel over the weekend, actually over the course of a Saturday between loads of laundry. While I was changing my whites from the washer and into the dryer I would wonder “why aren’t Tallulah‘s ostriches laying eggs? Are they sick? Heartbroken?” I became quite invested in Tallulah‘s ostriches and worried about their … Continue reading 142 Ostriches by April Davila
Pretty Things by Janelle Brown
You know, in a warped, conniving, murderous way I’d say this novel is a story about friendship. Nina and Lachlan are grifters who scope out mansions of the rich and steal “only what won’t be missed”. It’s a profession Nina comes by naturally seeing how she was raised by a mother who earned a living … Continue reading Pretty Things by Janelle Brown
Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel
It is the dead of winter where I live, -35C with snow and a killer wind chill. There is nothing else to do but go straight home after work, crawl under a quilt and read. Thankfully Simon and Schuster Canada through Netgalley sent me an advanced reading copy of Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel. … Continue reading Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel
