I was interested to read a holiday book this year and this seemed like a fun choice. Under the Mistletoe was a fun quick read and perfect for this timI was interested to read a holiday book this year and this seemed like a fun choice. Under the Mistletoe was a fun quick read and perfect for this time of year. I love short stories but I’ve never read romance short stories or any of these authors before. This anthology featured some stories that I enjoyed more than others but all five were quick reads. I liked the varied characters from doctor to farmer to single Mom to firefighter and the various settings from Texas to the Seattle area. By the fifth story it was not surprising to encounter another male giant. I’m curious if these author’s novels are better than these short stories.
Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley for my ALC!...more
If you’re a literary fiction lover like me then I’d recommend adding WE COULD BE RATS by Emily Austin to your list! I was excited to read my first booIf you’re a literary fiction lover like me then I’d recommend adding WE COULD BE RATS by Emily Austin to your list! I was excited to read my first book by this author and I found this novel very compelling and intense. I really appreciated the author’s note at the beginning because of the subject matter. Please DM me if you’d like to discuss. I couldn’t put this book down because I loved the writing style that featured two sister’s perspectives and their relationship. I loved the focus on friendship, coming of age, family dynamics, queer love and all the dark humour. My 2025 reads are already so good!
NEAR DISTANCE by Hanna Stoltenberg translated from the Norwegian by Wendy H. Gabrielsen is a great character study in just 145 pages. This book explorNEAR DISTANCE by Hanna Stoltenberg translated from the Norwegian by Wendy H. Gabrielsen is a great character study in just 145 pages. This book explores the relationship between Karin and her adult daughter Helene. They’re both facing troubles in their respective relationships with men. I really enjoyed the concise timeline and flawed characters. Their mother and daughter relationship was complex and interesting. I really enjoyed reading this book and it could easily be read in one sitting. I love a good short book!
What a gripping book! I was initially excited to listen to this audiobook The Lake of Lost Girls by Katherine Greene because Helen Laser is one of theWhat a gripping book! I was initially excited to listen to this audiobook The Lake of Lost Girls by Katherine Greene because Helen Laser is one of the narrators and I love her narration! I loved the full cast on this audiobook. All the other narrators Frankie Corzo, Sara Young, Haley Taylor, and David Bendena are all great too. This suspense novel features dual timelines, multiple perspectives, podcast clips and the mystery of three missing female college students. I did not guess the ending! I was so curious to find out the ending so I read this book quickly in three days. The podcast parts were a bit over the top but I enjoyed the ride.
Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley for my ALC!...more
I was so eager to read Woo Woo by Ella Baxter because I loved her other book New Animal. This novel is about Sabine, an artist, who is preparing for hI was so eager to read Woo Woo by Ella Baxter because I loved her other book New Animal. This novel is about Sabine, an artist, who is preparing for her big exhibition and her relationship with her husband, who’s a chef, and her mental state. I loved the humour in this book! I listened to the audiobook and the narrator Cat Gould was very good. I loved the reference to Ann Demeulemeester and “looking like an artist�. The art world is quite fascinating in this novel as I couldn’t quite picture Sabine’s art. While I didn’t love this novel as much as her first one this was still a very good read and I’m eager to read her next book too.
Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley for my ALC!...more
I loved reading UNDER THE EYE OF THE BIG BIRD by Hiromi Kawakami translated from the Japanese by Asa Yoneda! I was so excited to read this since I lovI loved reading UNDER THE EYE OF THE BIG BIRD by Hiromi Kawakami translated from the Japanese by Asa Yoneda! I was so excited to read this since I loved her other book People From My Neighbourhood. This novel is so weird and good. It’s a speculative fiction where humans are on the brink of extinction and children are made from rabbits and dolphins and there are mutants and aliens. I loved the way this novel is told in interconnected vignettes and focuses on the connection and humanity in a ravaged world. A complex and fascinating novel!! I can’t wait to read more by this author!
I’ve heard a lot about this author’s writing so I was very excited to read my first book by this author and listen to the audiobook of A Map to the DoI’ve heard a lot about this author’s writing so I was very excited to read my first book by this author and listen to the audiobook of A Map to the Door of No Return: Notes on Belonging by Dionne Brand. Brand narrates and it’s great to listen to her recite her own words. This book was originally published in 2001 and still feels relevant today. Brand shares her experiences from her childhood in the Caribbean to living in Canada and African ancestry and the connection to place and history. It was interesting to read about the places in Toronto I’ve been to before like the Danforth. This line stood out to me: “writing is an open conversation�. I really enjoyed this insightful book and I’m very curious to read more of this author’s work now.
Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley for my ALC!...more
I just finished reading Vantage Points: On Media as Trans Memoir by Chase Joynt and I loved this book! I listened to the audiobook read by the author I just finished reading Vantage Points: On Media as Trans Memoir by Chase Joynt and I loved this book! I listened to the audiobook read by the author and it was great to listen to him tell his own story. This book made me remember reading Marshall McLuhan: You Know Nothing of My Work! by Douglas Coupland back in 2013 and it’s referenced in this book. The medium is the message or the medium is still the massage is still relevant today. It’s very interesting to read about media from his trans perspective. So many amazing authors are referenced in this book including Douglas Coupland, Elliot Page, Billy-Ray Belcourt, Zoe Whittall and Judith Butler. I really liked this unique take on memoir.
Thank you to ECW Press Audio via NetGalley for my ALC!...more
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