Book Review: The Ex-Boyfriend Yard Sale by Haley McGee

By Robyn Rossit

How can you put a price on love? Finding herself in debt, Haley McGee finds the solution to her monetary struggles—a yard sale. However, the only items she has of value were gifts from ex-boyfriends. But how do you price an item when you have so many memories, both those of joy and those of pain associated to them? Do miserable times increase the price as compensation for suffering, or does it make the item worthless? Gambling on a larger payout, Haley decides to ask a mathematician for help to create a formula to determine the cost of love. Between her own memories and interviewing her ex-boyfriends, she ends up with a formula with eighty-six variables. Fuelled with heartbreak and raw emotion, The Ex-Boyfriend Yard Sale is a unique reading experience.

The Ex-Boyfriend Yard Sale takes the reader on Haley's journey to complete her impossible-seeming task to make a formula that calculates the cost of love. Each chapter is dedicated to a different component of said formula, such as narrative impact, wild cards, and of course, a rose tint corrector. I have to admit, I am not mathematically inclined at all, so the fine details of the formula went a little over my head, but I still appreciated the journey and found it fascinating seeing Haley and her mathematician friend Gemma create something out of nothing. I really enjoyed Gemma and her never-ending patience for the many, many additions made to the formula along the way. She has the patience of a saint.

I found Haley's interviews with her ex-boyfriends to be insightful. It allowed the reader to gain their perspective, particularly when it came to what happened in the relationship and why it broke down. I found expectation versus reality to be a large theme in Haley's journey, so I found getting to see both sides interesting. 

Haley is raw and honest in re-telling her story, which I greatly admire. The Ex-Boyfriend Yard Sale is written conversationally so that the reader feels like they are there alongside her. It cannot be easy to openly dissect your own relationships and put them out there for the world to critique. Certainly her story is going to resonate with many readers. If you’re curious about the cost of love, give it a read! She even includes her formula if you are wanting to give it a try! It certainly is the most unique memoir I have read to date.

Thank you, Penguin Random House Canada, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Stories in the Sky: Constellations by Kyle Brach and Illustrated by Lizzy Doyle

By Kaylie Seed

Ever since I was little, I have enjoyed staring up at the night sky, admiring the moon and stars with my dad. He would point out some of the constellations in the sky, and as I got older, I always remembered those moments together when I stared up at the night sky, searching for the constellations I grew up learning about.

Stories in the Sky: Constellations is a children’s book meant for ages 3-5, but parents will find this adorable board book aesthetically pleasing and interesting too. Written in a rhyming format, author Kyle Brach has taken a well-known topic and brought it down to a child’s level. Focusing on ten of the more well-known constellations, Brach includes a small story and a fun fact about each of the constellations. Some of these were new to me as I didn’t know all of the constellation origin stories. Brach also includes when the reader can find each constellation in the sky as some can only be seen during certain seasons in the Northern Hemisphere.

Along with the blurb and fun facts, illustrator Lizzy Doyle has included adorably vibrant illustrations of the groups of stars inside what they are meant to be. For example, Doyle has drawn a bear and inside of the bear shows the star groupings that make up the constellation Ursa Major. These illustrations are fun to look at and allow parents to help point out the star groupings in the sky at night that make up each constellation.

Learning about the stars is something that has been around as long as humans have been around, but it is a topic that never ceases to amaze each generation. Having books like Stories in the Sky: Constellations allows for the conversation about stars and space to continue on and inspire a love for our night sky.

Thank you, Simon and Schuster Canada, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews

By Larissa Page

Content warnings: Suicidal ideation

By one of Canada’s top authors—and one of my favourites—Miriam Toews’ All My Puny Sorrows is about two sisters, Yolanda and Elfreida; one trying desperately to die and the other trying to keep her sister alive while also supporting her. Raised in a Mennonite community, having lost their father to suicide a few years earlier, this story is a reflection on their lives as children, as sisters, and their present-day struggle to survive Elf’s depression and desire to end her suffering and Yoli’s response to that along with the changes in her own life—like her recently ended marriage and her children.

Having read several Toews’ books in the past, I was comforted by her unique and familiar writing style. Always a little quirky, slightly scattered and written with some humour and hope, even when the subject matter is incredibly tough. The themes of suicide and depression in this novel are intense, serious, and so real. A major focus is put on a serious mental illness as well as its impacts on the people who love and have relationships with the person and how they live with the knowledge that someone they love so much does not want to continue living. 

I really enjoyed the characters in this book. Toews is a master of creating incredible, lovable, damaged, resilient characters dealing with ordinary and extraordinary circumstances. Yolandi’s internal dialogue in dealing with her sister and the changes and choices happening in her own life is relatable and real. Elf is written as such a strong and impactful character, stubborn, fighting for what she wants even when what she wants (to die) would often result in our society labelling her as someone who isn’t strong. These women are multifaceted and I feel like this novel gives us so much, yet not all, of them. 

I can see this novel being incredibly triggering for anyone living with depression or suicidal ideation or anyone loving someone experiencing this. While it sheds some light on the struggles (and is incredibly impactful in bringing up a different side of the conversation) it may not be a novel for everyone. It is important for sure but take care when choosing to read it.

All My Puny Sorrows is coming to the big screen this year which is what prompted me to read it now. It was heavy and not one I would consider a quick read—I would even say I struggled a little because it expected so much of my heart and my brain. I feel it was worth my time, though, an important dialogue on mental illness, relationships surrounding it, an impactful look at sister relationships, and familiar love. I still look forward to watching the movie, even if it means my heart breaks all over again.

Book Review: Two at the Top by Uma Krishnaswami and Christoper Corr

By Serena Ewasiuk

Two at the Top: A Shared Dream of Everest by Uma Krishnaswami with illustrations by Christopher Corr is a colourful and engaging children’s story about two boys from different parts of the world who share a love of the outdoors and a dream of climbing huge mountains when they grow up. The story begins by introducing Tenzing and Edmund and continues with their alternating points of view. Tenzing lives in Nepal and Edmund lives in New Zealand. We learn unique details of their childhoods and the paths their separate lives take before they attempt to summit Mount Everest. Finally, after several failed attempts, the two men climb Mount Everest together and succeed. 

Of course, we are talking about Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary, who achieved their lifelong goal of climbing to the top of Mount Everest and became the first humans to do so.  

Two at the Top is a story of perseverance, dedication, and bravery. The writing is poetic and will grab young readers’ attention with descriptive phrases like ”The battling winds roared like a thousand tigers.” The illustrations are eye-catching with bright, vivid, colours and really drew in my young child.  He wanted to know more about the animals in the pictures and the sports that young Tenzing and Edmund were playing. He asked about the prayer flags and the tools the climbers used.  

An interesting feature of the book is the inclusion of detailed facts about Mount Everest and Tenzing and Hillary’s famous trek at the end of the story. Topics include how to measure the height of mountains, details of the impressive mountain ranges of China and Nepal, the number of people needed to support a climbing expedition, and the animals who make their homes at the base of the mountains.

Two at the Top: A Shared Dream of Everest is intended for children from three to five years of age, but in my opinion it would be better suited to children a bit older who would like to immerse themselves in geography and social studies to better understand this region of the world and the challenging expedition of Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary.

Thank you to Groundwood books for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Light of the Midnight Stars by Rena Rossner

By Shantell Powell

Content warning: violent death, murder, grief, sexual assault, anti-Semitism

Rena Rossner is a literary agent with an MA in history, living in Israel. She is inspired by the stories of her ancestors from Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Hungary, and Romania. She has a keen interest in folklore and fairy tales and is the author of The Sisters of the Winter Wood and Eating the Bible. Her newest novel, The Light of the Midnight Stars, is a historical fantasy with strong roots in Judaism and storytelling. Jewish folklore, the Torah, and kabbalistic teachings make up the skeleton of this book. Its universe is rich with shapeshifters, miracle workers, voivodes, mystics, and celestial beings. The writing is lyrical, and everyone has stories to tell. Some of the stories feel familiar to me from my knowledge of the Old Testament, but other ancient stories are new to me because I was not raised in the Jewish tradition. I expect people versed in those traditions will get much more out of this book than I did. I enjoyed being introduced to Jewish religious practices and customs. If you are into queer Jewish fairy tales with female protagonists, this is the book for you.

The protagonists are Hannah, Sarah, and Levana, the three daughters of the great Rabbi Isaac Solomonar and his wife Esther. They are descendants of the mystical tradition of King Solomon and they live in an increasingly anti-Semitic world. The story takes place in fifteenth-century Hungary when a strange black mist—a sentient sort of evil—spreads its way across Europe and is blamed upon the Jews. I interpret the mist as symbolic of the bubonic plague and xenophobia.

The book changes points of view between the three Orthodox sisters. Hannah, Sarah, and Levana each have their own sacred magical talents, personal tragedies, and complicated relationships with the rest of their family. When intense persecution forces them all into hiding, they escape to a more religiously tolerant area in Wallachia and pose as Christians.   

The book follows the themes of love, loss, trauma, and resilience in a time when it was dangerous to display one’s heritage. The overarching mood is oppressive and foreboding, but the text is not without hope. The Light of the Midnight Stars shows the lengths the young women must go to ensure their family’s survival.

I found the plot sometimes difficult to follow. I got lost in some of the stories and needed to flip back a few pages to re-centre myself. If you are at ease with intricate fantasy plotlines, this shouldn’t be a problem for you. If you like your stories straightforward, you may find this book challenging.

My biggest fault with the book is not with the content or the story but with one of the editing choices. Whenever the text is not written in English, the words in Jewish languages are italicised. I think this is an unfortunate practice which centres English as the norm and portrays other languages as curiosities.

This book will appeal to fans of Naomi Novik, Madeline Miller, or Jordanna Max Brodsky.

Thank you, Hachette Book Group, for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: We Two Alone by Jack Wang

By Larissa Page

A few of the books I’ve read recently highlighted the lack of Asian voices in the literature I’ve been reading. When I saw the Canada Reads 2022 longlist released with We Two Alone on it—a series of short stories highlighting Chinese diaspora over a few different generations, set in different countries—I knew I wanted to read it.

All the stories include an aspect of the Chinese Immigrant experience; though, spanning time and also geographical space, their experiences are different. Themes, as expected, are similar throughout and speak to experiences like discrimination, war, determination to achieve dreams, grit, loss, loneliness, and many others. Not all stories had happy endings, but I felt the joy and happiness of even a memory in most of them. 

There wasn’t a story in this collection that I didn’t enjoy, but I think I enjoyed the first one the most. Titled “The Valkyries,” it follows a young man in the early 20th century Vancouver who just wants to play hockey. He tries out for a local team but is unsuccessful due to discrimination against Chinese people. After seeing the intramural women’s team play, he decides he can disguise himself as a woman and play hockey that way—if he can keep his secret hidden.

As mentioned, all these stories had something to offer me as a reader. I learned much about the Chinese Immigrant experience, as well as anti-Asian discrimination that I hadn’t previously been educated on or read in other pieces of literature. The quality of the writing was obvious within the stories, giving them feeling despite their shorter length. I listened to We Two Alone as an audiobook production, and I’d also like to note that I enjoyed the narrator.  

I am unsurprised this collection made it to the Canada Reads longlist this year. It fit the theme of a story to connect us and it was a potent look at a community of people often overlooked. I am very glad I picked it up.

Book Review: Rebound by Perry King

By Christa Sampson

At the beginning of the pandemic, everyone was forced to take stock of how they lived, worked, and played. During this time, Toronto-based writer Perry King ruminated over the loss of opportunity for people, and especially youth, to continue to participate in sports. Throughout the pandemic it has become shockingly evident that in addition to healthcare and housing, vulnerable communities have less funding and access to sports facilities and programs. Too often, outdoor public spaces like basketball courts were found to be in disrepair and were frequently closed with lockdown restrictions. This created a huge void in an already fragile environment.   

In Rebound, King starts by asking the question “why do sports even matter?” He goes on to answer it while taking a close look at various sports communities in terms of access, inclusivity, funding, and the trajectory of the athletes who play each sport.  

Perry King makes the case that sport should not be considered just a childhood pastime but should form the foundation of regular physical activity from childhood into adulthood. It has been proven time and again that organized sport teaches kids valuable lessons that extend beyond the court, rink, or playing field. The pandemic took those opportunities to play away, and some communities are at risk of losing them altogether. King examines how society needs to shift to accommodate sport and make it accessible for everyone at all levels of play. This is extremely important at the community level because it helps foster a sense of belonging for newcomers.  

King describes his own childhood experience playing basketball at his neighbourhood community centre and later recounts interviews with various national and international sports figures (Kobe Bryant and Karl Subban to name two) who share their philosophies on the act of participating in sport. There are chapters on sports that are not considered mainstream sports in Canada, such as cricket, rugby, and Muay Thai; although perhaps not mainstream, all of the above have huge followings. King highlights the importance of inclusivity as the common thread to increase the participation and retention of kids in sport. 

Rebound reads like a literary documentary. Each chapter discusses different sports or sports-related topics, but King makes seamless connections between them, showing that sports and cultural identity are intertwined in myriad ways, and we need sports not only to thrive, but to survive. This book is not only for those who play; there are many takeaways in the pages of Rebound that are both informational and inspiring. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.  

Thank you to Coach House Books for the complimentary copy of Rebound in exchange for an honest review. 

Book Review: Be Kind, Be Calm, Be Safe by Dr. Bonnie Henry and Lynn Henry

By Danielle Szewc

Two years later and the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic is still raw for many people, groups, and nations affected by the novel SARS-COV-2 virus. Dr. Bonnie Henry and Lynn Henry’s Be Kind, Be Calm, Be Safe offers a new perspective into the daily decisions and behind-the-scenes of the public health measures taken in the early weeks of the pandemic in Canada: “There’s science, and there’s emotion. The scientific facts are one thing; the social choices and consequences are another. We need to consider both.” 

Be Kind, Be Calm, Be Safe: Four Weeks that Shaped a Pandemic is divided into three sections: “Part I: Be Kind” focuses on the week of March 12, 2020, starting with the events in China upon the release of the news of the novel coronavirus on December 26, 2019. “Part II: Be Calm” transitions to the week of March 17, 2020, and the beginning of the Canadian pandemic measures to flatten the curve. Finally, “Part III: Be Safe” focuses on the end of March and April 2020, and the future of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Each part is sectioned into two narratives, one from the perspective of Dr. Bonnie Henry, British Colombia’s provincial health officer, and one from Lynn Henry, Dr. Henry’s sister and close confidant during the early weeks of the pandemic. Dr. Henry’s perspective is filled with the reflections of her previous work on the SARS pandemic in 2003 and the Ebola virus outbreaks in 2001, along with optimism in scientific advancements, scientific policy, and public health measures. Lynn Henry adds to the narrative with both a personal and a professional understanding of Dr. Henry’s decisions and actions during the first four weeks of the pandemic in Canada. 

Although slow and dry in some areas, both authors are detailed and well-versed in their reflections. Be Kind, Be Calm, Be Safe adds a forgotten aspect to the measures taken during the initial stages—and branching out to the current stages—of the pandemic: the authorities trying to guide us are human and have tough decisions to make. 

While not everyone may agree with the viewpoints expressed in this memoir, I encourage you to pick it up and try to understand that decisions made in the public health and political environment do have a very human aspect to them. 

Thank you, Penguin Random House Canada, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Lili Macaroni by Nicole Testa Illustrated by Annie Boulanger

By Christine McFaul

Lili Macaroni is a new award-winning Canadian picture book by author Nicole Testa and illustrator Annie Boulanger.

“My name is Lili Macaroni, and I am who I am.” 

Lili Macaroni is an exuberant young protagonist. She knows exactly who she is and loves it—until she starts kindergarten. At school, her classmates call her Lili Macaroni-and-Cheese. They say her hair is like a pumpkin, her eyes are squinty blueberries, and her laugh sounds like a parrot. Lili becomes more and more self-conscious, until finally, she stops doing all the things she loves. She wants to erase herself and draw a brand-new Lili to take her place. But does she really want to give up her hair like Mom’s, her eyes like Grandma’s, or her magical laugh like Grandpa’s? Lili realizes that no, she doesn’t. Instead, with some helpful advice from her parents, she makes a polka-dot butterfly to wear on her shoulder. This eases her heartache by helping her to envision her sorrows flying away. When Lili explains what the butterfly means to her class, she realizes how empowering it can be to give a voice to your emotions and that she is not the only one at school who might be in need of a polka-dot butterfly. 

In Lili, Testa has created an irresistibly engaging character to explore the topics of self-confidence and emotions. The book encourages readers to be themselves, suggests practical solutions for coping with difficult emotions (a great platform for caregivers/educators to open up further discussion on these topics), and even includes a series of ‘Inspired Activities’ to encourage a deeper understanding of the themes in the book (my daughters loved the easy-to-follow template for creating their own polka-dot butterfly!).  

Boulanger’s illustrations are totally charming and child friendly. The colours cleverly mirror Lili’s moods—bright, warm, and energetic when she is happy, but shadowed and darker when she is sad—a perfect personification of Lili’s emotional journey throughout the story. And I love how all the illustrations are set against a crisp white background, so they really pop. 

With its loveable main character and empowering message, Lili Macaroni is an excellent book. A great choice for anyone looking for resources to support children with managing feelings and emotions or just looking for a great read in general! (Recommended for readers aged 3-5.)

Thank you, Pajama Press, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Prynne Viper by Bianca Marais

By Larissa Page

Trigger warning: suicidal ideation, involuntary termination of pregnancy

It’s no secret that I am a fan of Bianca Marais’s writing. Her novels Hum If You Don’t Know the Words and If You Want to Make God Laugh were two of my top reads of 2021. When she announced that she had written a short story that was produced into an Audible Original audio production, I knew I had to listen—both because I so enjoy her writing and because I love a good, well put together audiobook production.

“The Prynne Viper” is a step outside Marais’s typical genre of writing. Set in a future utopian society, free of religion and focused almost solely on data and algorithms to produce a happier and more productive society, this two-hour audiobook takes place in a courtroom. Each time a mother becomes pregnant, the DNA of the parents and the embryo are tested and run by an advanced computer analysis that not only gives full information on their physical and character traits, but also on the choices they’ll make and the people they’ll impact within their lifetime. If the impacts are seen to be more negative than positive (therefore taking away from the happiness and productiveness of society), the pregnancy will be terminated. This is decided by a jury of 13 people who will be positively and negatively impacted by the person should the pregnancy be allowed to come to term. 

We are given four points of view throughout this story: three jurors and the defendant (the pregnant mother). Somehow, within each point of view, Marais was able to give us a very whole look at the futuristic society she created with societal norms, technological advancements, hints at what has happened to our natural world, and things we would right now find normal—and she did it all within a short space of writing. Because each of the four points of view are unique, each have different opinions and views on the state of their world and society, we are able to form our own opinions on it.

The theme and plot of the story are also thought-provoking in another manner; the idea of nature versus nurture, how much of our lives can be mapped and how much is free will, and can we break out of the expectations and actions put on us by our very DNA? I truly didn’t know how the courtroom decision would play out until the very end, even though we are led to believe that the vote should be predictable.

I really enjoyed listening to this story, learning about this futuristic society so different (and yet not so different) from our own, considering how much of our lives is predetermined simply because of who we are and how much is fully free will. So much is packed into a short listening experience (complete with courtroom sound effects, which absolutely add it) that you can listen and enjoy without committing to a substantial amount of time. I absolutely recommend this short story.

Book Review: Homicide and Halo-Halo by Mia P. Manansala

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warnings (as provided by the author): PTSD, fatphobia, fertility/pregnancy issues, predatory behaviour, sexual harassment, unresolved grief, parental death (occurred in childhood), and dismissive attitudes towards mental health. Additional content warnings: murder, drowning 

Homicide and Halo-Halo is the second book in the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mysteries series. A few months after being accused of murdering her ex-boyfriend, Lila Macapagal wants nothing more than to put that incident behind her. But it seems no one in Shady Palms is willing to let the past go, and Lila gets dragged into judging the Shady Palms beauty pageant, of which she is a former winner. When a fellow judge is killed, Lila's cousin Bernadette becomes the prime suspect. Now it’s up to Lila to protect her family and the beauty pageant contestants from a killer whose motives are just as elusive as Lila’s baking inspiration these days. 

It’s difficult to review a sequel without comparing it to the first, but the author herself does address this book’s slightly darker tone. I appreciate the author’s notes at the beginning of both books in this series, but Manansala’s statement at the beginning of this one really helped me set realistic expectations for this book. As she says, this book is darker than the first. While still firmly a cosy mystery, Lila is in a difficult place in this book; she struggles with unprocessed trauma, both from the events of the first book and from unhealthy relationships from her childhood. While there were times I found myself missing my favourite side characters from Arsenic and Adobo, the book takes the time to explore how Lila deals with trauma, including pushing people away, and I really respect that. Too often in genres like mystery, mental health can be glossed over for the sake of the next thrill. I valued this book’s commitment to exploring the impacts of trauma and providing Lila with support. I’m excited to see that journey continue as the series progresses. 

I know I said I wouldn’t compare this to the first book, but I will say, while being a fun, quick read (I devoured it in less than twenty-four hours), Homicide and Halo-Halo had a slightly less gripping mystery than its predecessor. This book sets up a number of compelling characters who could all be suspects, and I didn’t feel entirely satisfied with how their stories wrapped up. The actual murder plot and final reveal were exciting, and I enjoyed searching for clues along with Lila and making my own theories, but I feel like there were some character interactions that were left unexplained. I have high hopes that we will see more of these characters in the future, but I did find myself wishing for a bit more information about a few people when I put the book down. 

That being said, I really enjoyed this book. The pacing is quick, the clues are well-spread out and kept me guessing, and I enjoyed Lila’s sleuthing, her meddling godmothers and all the personal dramas that got in the way. The characters in this story are all complex and interesting, and the new characters only add to the appeal of this world. And, as always, this book made me absolutely starving. Lila’s desserts and Tita Rosie’s meals had my stomach rumbling, and I, for one, am eager to try out all of the recipes provided in the back of the book, starting with Lila’s Halo-Halo ice candy. 

Overall, while I may have wanted a bit more from the story’s resolution, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Lila is a delight to follow, and I can’t wait to see what she and her family get up to next (local gossip claims that Lila’s meddling godmothers, the Calendar Crew, might find themselves in a bit of hot water in Blackmail and Bibingka, but we’ll have to wait until October to find out). 

Thank you to Penguin Randomhouse for a review copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Last Beekeeper by Siya Turabi

By Melissa Khan

Hassan, a young boy from Harikaya, Pakistan, loves nature, poetry, and his parents. His mother’s eyesight is getting worse, and Hassan knows the only thing that could keep her from losing her sight completely is the mythical black honey found in the forbidden forest in his village. But to find the bees and obtain their honey, he must first find the beekeeper. Before he can, Hassan is sent to Karachi on scholarship to stay with Mir Saab, a man he believes drove his father away. While there, he meets Mir Saab’s niece, Maryam, and becomes enamoured with life in the city. But the bees still call to him.

The Last Beekeeper is a story of a young boy’s choice between living a life he could never have dreamt for himself and the one he was always meant for. The language is atmospheric and entangles you in its magic realism. 

The historical context of the novel, set in 1974 amidst the political changes in Pakistan, provides an intense layer to this novel that without it wouldn’t be the same. Understanding the volatile shift happening between the private and publicly owned industries at the time allows readers to fully empathize with Mir Saab’s actions and how devastating the choice he made was when he was Hassan’s age. Also, recognizing the real-world existence of the species of bees Hassan is searching for allows readers to believe in the honey’s healing properties, instead of it being simply a magical solution. Before going into this novel, I wasn’t aware of these elements, and my perspective changed greatly upon learning them. The magic felt real and the stakes were higher.

Although beautifully written, there were moments throughout the story that felt like false starts, making it difficult to stay focused. An event would occur that could further the main plot, but the scene would end abruptly, or the characters would neglect to share information. Hassan’s lack of information was used to add a mystical sense of uncertainty, but it also made the story drag. Magical elements like Hassan’s ability to visit the beehive, communicate with them, or his connection with them went unexplained, leaving the reader confused. Around the midway point in the novel, I kept anticipating that something big was about to happen and was disappointed when nothing ever came from what I interpreted as foreshadowing. More conflict or substantial interactions between intertwined characters could have prevented their endings from feeling thin or underdeveloped.

I struggled at first to get into this story, which was due mainly to missing details and context. Upon completion of the novel, I’m glad I was able to finish. I think, overall, the story was decent and enjoyable. I encourage those interested in Hassan’s journey to stick through it and keep an open mind for this ambitious debut novel. 

Thank you, Harper Collins Canada, for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney

By Carmen Lebar

Beautiful World, Where Are You is the latest novel by Sally Rooney after the massive success of Normal People. It details the life of Eileen, Alice, Felix, and Simon as they try to understand their relationships to each other as well as themselves. In quintessential Sally Rooney form and structure, Rooney creates a vivid and colourful world where even the mundane is extraordinary. However, there are many parts of this novel that unfortunately didn’t work for me. I went into this novel hoping to connect with the characters and story, but a lot of it fell flat. My biggest critique of this novel is that it read like Rooney was trying to write two different books into one. 

The novel interchanges between first-person narration (written in email format) and third-person narration. The juxtaposition of these narratives is very harsh and does not flow well when reading. These chapters touch upon interesting topics such as fame, Marxism, writing, and much more. Yet, with these chapters, the writing becomes increasingly formal even though the narrators are writing personal emails to their best friend. It felt strange reading knowing that these characters are very close. While these emails reflect the interests and concerns of two of the main characters, Rooney unfortunately writes in a rather formal, almost academic, tone that begs the question: why wasn’t a collection of essays written instead?

I enjoyed learning about the characters in this novel, but it was hard to connect with them when reading these emails. If Rooney had focused more on the platonic and romantic relationships, I would have enjoyed this novel much more. There were many great moments where Rooney established very interesting character-driven prose, and there’s no doubt that Rooney is a talented writer, but I felt the emails unintentionally took away from the character development. For example, some characters identify as bisexual and there’s no exploration of this identity with these queer characters. What does it mean for them? How does it affect their livelihood? There’s also a pivotal moment for a character that Rooney glosses over that I felt was one of the most interesting moments in the novel. Adding extra details and expanding on moments would have made the novel more complex and engaging.

In Beautiful World, Where Are You, Rooney wrote some beautiful and dynamic prose. The characters all have intimate moments and characteristics only Rooney could write. I think this novel would have benefitted from staying as a third-person narration and had these email correspondences reworked or removed to create a collection of essays. I’m sure Rooney enthusiasts would love to read any nonfiction from her, especially concerning her writing process and struggles with fame. Unfortunately, the novel didn’t work for me. I think this novel would be great for anyone who loves Rooney’s work or if you enjoy contemporary fiction written by women. I still look forward to the next book Rooney releases. 

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. Please note that Carmen has recently acquired a new position with Penguin Random House Canada. Her thoughts and opinions are her own, but for transparency we'd like to share this detail.

Book Review: In the Footsteps of the Group of Seven by Jim and Sue Waddington

Caprice Hogg

This is not your average art history book as Jim and Sue Waddington take the reader on an artistic adventure. Their goal was not only to have a better understanding of the paintings and the artists of the Group of Seven, but they also felt that “Canadians should know some of the sites of their most renowned paintings.” 

            The Group of Seven travelled to remote locations across Canada to paint the rugged and remote lands. These trips resulted in an art movement showcasing a truly Canadian art. Yet, the artists left very few details as to where the paintings actually happened. It was the art that inspired the authors to track down the locations of these paintings that changed the way we see art in Canada. This turned into a 36-year odyssey that took the authors on journeys to lands many Canadians will never see. The trips were not easy as they traversed through rugged and remote locations to find the spot of the painter’s artistic vision.  

            More important than the actual travel was the lengthy process of researching and investigating the elusive painting spots. They tracked mere clues found in letters and other correspondence to narrow down their search. The authors also acknowledge that luck, more often than not, was their greatest ally in finding the scene of the paintings. The result of their efforts produced a beautiful book that not only showcases the artwork of Canada’s greatest painters but then puts those paintings next to a photograph of the actual scene. This parallel allows the viewer to literally stand in the exact locations where the painters stood decades earlier. It is fascinating to see how little the scenes themselves have changed even after so much time has passed. To an artistic eye, seeing the photos of the views next to the paintings gives us a deeper understanding of what the artists found to be important, the details they left out of the paintings, the parts they chose to focus on, and how they simplified the dramatic scene in front of them. All these details are important to better understand the paintings and what their artistic eyes deemed important in a work of art.

            This book transports us to a time when the artists themselves, who are now long dead, stood in these various spots with paintbrushes dripping with oil paint, paintboxes, and spectacular scenery spread out in front of them. These moments in time would live on and become famous because they captured them in paint for future generations. They created something that is revered in art museums across the country. It takes us back to the humble beginnings before the artists were famous and show how their talents and the remarkable Canadian scenery stands through the test of time. 

Book Review: The Perfect Family by Robyn Harding

By Carly Smith

Content warning: sexual assault/rape, harassment

From the outside looking in, the Adler home is perfect: an immaculate yard, a well-maintained house, and hardworking, successful parents. From the inside looking out, however, things are far from perfect. Meet Viv, Thomas, Eli, and Tarryn. On paper, the family is nearly flawless. Viv helps her well-to-do clients remodel rooms in their homes, while Thomas is a local real estate agent. Eli is home from university for the summer, taking some downtime from his impressive soccer talents, and Tarryn is a teenage girl who, much to any parent’s relief, does not appear to be overly consumed by the typical pressures of young adulthood. 

What most neighbours and acquaintances are not privy to though, are the Adler’s secrets. Theft, late night video chats in lingerie, sexual assault, and drunken indiscretions haunt the family members. So when their home is continuously targeted by vandals, arsonists, and intruders, and their safety is threatened, each family member has reason to wonder if his or her secrets were the cause. Harding creatively juxtaposes the untarnished façade of a meticulously cared for house with the dreadful metaphorical closet that houses the family’s many skeletons. 

The chapters of this page-turning thriller alternate between each family member. Readers are first introduced to the goings-on in the Adler house by Viv, a middle aged wife and decorator who seems to have it all but is feeling little control in her own life. Fearing the worst from her husband and disappointed by a recent choice made by her son, Viv takes on a secret habit to help her cope. Next, we hear from Thomas, a diligent, hardworking man whose attempts to connect with his children often miss the mark. A night of overindulgence paired with his lack of self-awareness lead to several predicaments which pose a threat to not only him, but to his family as well.  

Eli, the oldest of the two Adler children, is spending his summer between gaming and working at a pub, causing much despondency in his parents. He can’t think about soccer or school, though, not at the risk of having terrible, nightmarish memories haunt him. Finally, readers are acquainted with Tarryn, only daughter of Viv and Thomas, a cynical yet wise young woman whose escape from high school life starts to interfere with her sense of safety and cause her to second guess her risky decisions. 

Choosing to write from the perspective of all four family members was a brave and exciting choice; when authors do this, there is often too much overlap and readers are left disengaged, feeling as if they already know how the book will end. Harding, however, did not overshare and used a unique tone and language for each character. I found myself looking forward to uncovering another character’s take on events, knowing that a few extra details would be added to help me work out the unknowns. I recommend this book for all thriller lovers, and any readers interested in taking a chance with the thriller genre.

Book Review: I Love You, Call Me Back by Sabrina Benaim

By Meredith Grace Thompson

 In I Love You, Call Me Back, Sabrina Benaim’s words speak directly into my mouth with a pre-pandemic intimacy which makes my skin shudder. Her speaker lives in isolation, compelled by brief interludes of virtual contact, distinctly within the moment of a summer in lockdown. She breathes video chats and walking her dog, cups of coffee on the stoop, and bird song. Her days are filled with cleaning rituals and phone calls with her mother and cooking. Her mind seems to exist within her body—tied very much to her body and yet floating beyond it somehow. Her relationships have become distances without intention . She watches her new nephew grow through a computer screen and listens to her sick mother describe what will come after she is gone, over the telephone.  

i am watching my nephew laugh for the first time 

through a screen 

i am watching my mother watch my nephew laugh (p.24)

Encapsulating the strangeness of pandemic isolation, Benaim writes a temporary yet inexhaustible reflection and refraction of self. Self-love; self-indulgence masquerading as self-care; self-care morphing into unfettered self-hatred, clawing its way back up up up into a healing, a growing together. A scar tissue collective sprouting into a blossoming nuance of form. 

She cascades through an inconsistently poignant use of capital letters— a lowercase i showing perhaps the deterioration self, perhaps the oneness of self. She captures through poetic form the layered depths of the rabbit hole which isolation opens up in the mind of the isolated. And while her body might be doing this or that, the mind of Benaim’s speaker is not limited to the same apartment, city, or time, but rather traverses freely through what came before and what is yet to come. Dreaming and daydreaming together at once. 

Benaim captures a moment of forced stillness, forced separation, relocation, and reflection where everything feels stalled, stagnant, reflective, spinning, and without a clear sense of time. Dates mark some of the poems to allow the reader a foothold within this swirling, mesmerising world, but being swept up into those swirling waters is the joy of Benaim’s writing. 

i have vivid dreams 

in all of them 

my mother is alive (p. 98)

A world which becomes comfortable to the speaker, at risk of perhaps not wanting to leave again.  

I hope the mail 

stays undelivered 

I do not wish 

to have my belongings back. (p. 57)

Benaim’s explorations of a self inside the extenuating circumstances of the pandemic are to be commended. Her poetry is fearless in its content, ranging from the deeply intimate nature of mental health and discussions of depression and body image, to the wild intimacy of the utterly mundane details of daily life (one poem is an excellent recipe for roasted cauliflower). For what could be more intimate than to be invited into the everyday of another human being, simply existing? The collection as a whole is a moment perfectly captured, leaving the reader with aftertastes of sunbeams and heavy summer air brimming with the strange daydreaming silence of mid-pandemic lockdown. 

...You bring yellow flowers

 every Monday when you arrive home. 

I keep them out on the wooden table 

no taller than a tulip standing 

on the shoulders of another tulip. (p. 23)

Book Review: Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney

By Melissa Barbuzzi

Think you know who you’re married to? Think again. In Rock Paper Scissors, Adam and Amelia’s marriage has been struggling for a long time. Adam is a workaholic screenwriter who also struggles with face blindness. He can’t recognize friends, family, or even his own wife Amelia. When the couple wins a weekend getaway in Scotland, they’re hoping it’s exactly what they need to fix their marriage. But little do they know their weekend getaway is more than it seems. Will all their problems be solved, or will 10 years of secrets come back to haunt them?

Rock Paper Scissors was the first book I’ve read by Alice Feeney, and I am now a big fan. I listened to this as an audiobook and absolutely loved every minute of it. Sometimes a book is even better in audio, and I think this was definitely the case here! The narration felt spot on, and I truly was envisioning every piece of the plot.

I loved the uniqueness of this thriller. Adam’s face blindness added a completely different element to the book and allowed for so much to happen—which definitely did! The story was told with multiple character POVs, as well as multiple timelines. Normally, this can get a bit confusing, but the way it was done was perfect. The character building and worldbuilding was very realistic, which is always really important to me in a book.

This was a stellar thriller that held my interest the entire time. There were so many twists throughout the book and so many little details that ended up coming full circle. My jaw genuinely dropped multiple times, and there were many “OMG” moments. At first I was worried that the book was going to be a bit too scary for me, but it ended up being the perfect amount of spooky!

By the end of the book my mind was blown and every theory I had was completely wrong. There were a few loose ends and not all of my questions were answered, but for the most part the ending gave me everything I needed.

Overall, Rock Paper Scissors has become one of my all-time favourite thrillers and I highly recommend it. I am so impressed with how unique it felt from other thrillers that I’ve read, and I cannot wait to read more Alice Feeney! I’ve already purchased a few of her old books and they’re currently sitting on my shelf ready to be read.

Book Review: awâsis by Louise B. Halfe (Sky Dancer)

By Carly Smith

In awâsis - kinky and dishevelled, Louise B. Halfe relays poems by way of awâsis, a being with a childlike, mischievous soul and a quick wit. awâsis is gender-fluid and embodies many different characters across Halfe’s compilation of poems. The concept of awâsis may be tricky to grasp, but their character is very fitting for the topics that Halfe covers, as well as for her desire to exude humour and a light-hearted tone. 

Halfe’s poems are loosely structured. They contain different sized stanzas and do not rhyme. The choice to make free-flowing, flexible poems parallels awâsis’s personality beautifully. Like awâsis, the forms in her poems keep readers on their toes; just as readers may have trouble predicting what awâsis will do or say next, they may also have trouble knowing when to move their eyes or stop their voices. The structures of Halfe’s poems are unique and whimsical, just like awâsis.

Halfe presents a variety of topics in her poems, including everyday experiences and mishaps, relationships, and sexuality. No matter the subject, Halfe’s words and awâsis’s adventures will leave readers chuckling and perhaps shaking their heads in agreement with a sly smile. Halfe does an amazing job of intertwining humour, wonder, and relatability. Furthermore, she uses word choice cleverly, sometimes choosing a Cree word instead of an English one, and at other times deliberately misspelling an English word. Her choice in language and spelling connects readers to the subject on a deeper level, and I appreciate that this technique is not overused. 

Overall, awâsis - kinky and dishevelled is a great book that leaves readers feeling both connected to Halfe’s work and intrigued by the parts they are unable to relate to.

Book Review: The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield

By Hayley Platt

The Apollo Murders (published in October 2021) is a novel following the Apollo 18 mission set in 1973. It is written by Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield, and it is clear from the beginning that the technical details of the writing are accurate. Overall, this book fits into many genres, including science fiction, mystery and thriller, and historical fiction.

The story follows the crew and support and ground staff, beginning from their preparations to go to the moon through to the return of the crew to earth. The thriller aspects of the book come from the race to space during the cold war era, and as the title eludes, a murder or two.

Though this book is heavy in technical details, the writing flowed smoothly. Details are described using language that can be understood by readers with various backgrounds, and no prior knowledge of the themes presented is required to enjoy the story. Reading The Apollo Murders will give you enough information to begin to understand and appreciate the complexities of space travel. About one hundred pages in, the story shifts from background and story building and dives into the mystery and thriller storyline-- from there, it’s difficult to put down.

Instead of being split into traditional chapters, The Apollo Murders is split into larger sections based on where in the mission the crew is. Within these sections there are shorter segments told from different perspectives, which keeps readers quickly flipping pages.

There are a few instances throughout the novel where there are mechanical failures onboard the spacecraft. During these times, Hadfield takes us into a flashback of sorts to the point in time where there was an error in construction or design of the particular piece, who was working on it, and some of their history. This was a really interesting way to get a glimpse at how long and detailed the construction of a piece of machinery like this can be.

In real life, the Apollo program ended after Apollo 17, so it is clear that this book is fiction, but also falls within the realm of possibility. A note at the beginning of the book indicates that many of the characters are real, many of the events actually happened, and the novel is bookended with a comprehensive list of each of the real people and things with some explanation. Sections like this, explaining exactly what is historical and what is fiction, are always appreciated in historical fiction books.

The Apollo Murders is a complex and detailed novel that seamlessly merges sci-fi with the historical challenges of its era. It is recommended to both thriller and space lovers—and of course, fellow fans of Chris Hadfield.

Book Review: Mouth to Mouth by Antoine Wilson

By Fayth Simmons

Mouth to Mouth could be described as a story within a story as the main narrative occurs via ruminative storytelling. At the onset of the novel, the main character is assumed to be the man first introduced, who has just gotten off a red-eye flight from Los Angeles and is waiting for his connecting flight to Berlin. The reader is given a slight history on this character, for the sake of context, but his role becomes less dominating and much more observatory as the plot progresses, and he is not given a name. The real protagonist is introduced as Jeff, an old college acquaintance of the nameless man, and someone he remembers having admiration for. Meeting at JFK airport, the two men recognize each other, and Jeff invites his old peer to join him in the first-class lounge to reconnect as they both wait for their shared flight to arrive, which has been delayed. Once settled and after a brief catch-up, Jeff begins to tell a somewhat surreal story: an explanation of the timeline of his young adult life, which hinges and centralizes around one major event.

Shortly after finishing college, Jeff finds himself housesitting at a residence near the water. When jogging along the beach one morning, he notices a swimmer, obviously struggling to stay afloat. He is confronted equally with the glaring reality of the situation and his aloneness on the beach. Weighing his options, he decides to jump in after this person and pull them to shore, where he resuscitates them (hence the title, Mouth to Mouth). This person turns out to be a man named Francis Arsenault, a notary figure in the art world, and after saving his life, Jeff cannot seem to help but feel some connection to him. Chasing this feeling, even years after the event, Jeff tracks Francis down to the location of his art gallery in Beverly Hills, seemingly seeking validation for his actions—or closure. The rest of the story follows Jeff as his life becomes ever more entwined with Francis’ up until the notable ending. 

Antoine’s novel follows a conversational pattern—the reader is always aware, however intriguing Jeff’s narration is, that he is speaking to another person, and that they are still set within the airport. The plot of what is realized to essentially be Jeff’s life story is compelling and significant in its consideration of a person’s relationship to fate. It initiates a debate over whether an individual’s role in steering such a thing as fate might be active or passive, and how this possible choice may result in differing outcomes. The novel is well-written and direct in its delivery style, though not especially emotional, and successfully keeps the reader engaged. That being said, though it poses some deeper, more philosophical lines of questioning, the language is not overly lyrical. Instead, the author has delivered a solid, clear, and uninterrupted narrative that aids in objectively illustrating the nature of the characters and the conflict within. 

Blurring the lines between thriller and mystery, Mouth to Mouth serves as an entertaining and thoughtfully written work of fiction, interspersed with themes of morality. It requires fairly little of the reader—the reader holding a similar role to that of the unnamed man as he sits and listens to Jeff tell his story, every so often adding in a question. Ultimately, this novel is representative of a series of events which have culminated to form a single character—as Jeff relates his past experiences to another person, it is as if he is finally able to see and understand them for himself. This notion could also allow for the reader to connect more fully with the narrative, meditating upon the main themes of humanism, identity, and the manipulation (or lack thereof) of fate.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.