The River’s Song by Suchen Christine Lim

Suchen Christine Lim is one of those great writers who I had never heard of simply because she is what the publishing industry considers to be ‘the other’ – a woman and a visible minority from some place else. Sigh. However, the awards and accolades that accompany her name (Fulbright, Iowa Writers’ Program, Arvon Foundation) made me look at her latest book, The River’s Song, a little more closely.

Armchair BEA – Introduction

That’s right, it’s the most exciting time of the year! Book Expo America (BEA). But for the poor sods like me who can’t make it to New York, we have Armchair BEA – all the bookish goodness of BEA without having to get out of pajamas!

On to Introductions! In the answers to just 5 questions I get to share all sorts of vital information with you (and I’m probably not going to stick to the questions).

The Mystics of Mile End by Sigal Samuel

If there was ever a book that sat right in my wheelhouse, it’s The Mystics of Mile End by Sigal Samuel. It’s by a Canadian, it’s set among Montreal’s Hasidic Jews, it’s subsumed in the mystical and at it’s heart is a philandering professor. Oh, i did i mention that there are secrets? Yep, you can hear my bells ringing from where you are sitting.

The Life and Death of Sophie Stark by Anna North

I sense The Life and Death of Sophie Stark is going to be one of those books that we will be seeing a lot of on all the Summer Reads lists. But as we have all learned, just because a book makes the must-read lists, doesn’t mean you should read it. And here I am to help you decide if you should, in fact, read The Life and Death of Sophie Stark. 

The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma

Let’s just say I had high hopes going into The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma and I was not let down. There has been a lot of murmuring in literary circles that Obioma is one to watch and I think people are right – Obioma can write!

The Mountain Story by Lori Lansens

I’ll be the first to admit that i was drawn to The Mountain Story because of the cover. Then, the fact that it was by Lori Lansens solidified my decision. I’ve not read many of her other books, but her reputation is solid. And, oh boy, The Mountain Story was a stunning read. Part adventure story, part a meditation on family.

My October by Claire Holden Rothman

My October by Claire Holden Rothman is what CanLit should be. It is a gripping story that is utterly Canadian. But more importantly, it made me think about Canada’s recent political history and the on-going legacy of Quebec Nationalism.

#30 Authors – Proustian Interview with Kristopher Jansma

You may not know this, but I’m a huge fan of Kristopher Jansma. I thought his debut novel, The Unchangeable Spots of Leopards (review), was complex, challenging and brilliant. So I was thrilled to be asked to interview him for #30Authors and the Legacy: An Anthology blog tour. Thrilled and then terrified. So I took the easy way out and crafted a Proustian-style Questionnaire for him. Enjoy!

#30Authors – Legacy: An Anthology

Way back in September I was asked to participate in #30Authors, a blog tour that spanned 30 days and featured 30 authors revealing their favorite recent reads. So much excitement was created that organizer Alison from The Book Wheel paired together with Velvet Morning Press to produce an anthology of short fiction and nonfiction, and Legacy: An Anthology was born.

DNF: The Last Bookaneer by Matthew Pearl

I should have liked The Last Bookaneer by Matthew Pearl, a historical novel about the illicit book trade between the United States and Europe. But I just couldn’t do it and it all comes down to one reason: style. There is a certain style with which some historical novels are written, and i just don’t like it. Here are some of the elements: