Finally finished this one after three weeks. It was well done and I feel like I should have really liked it (Hoffman, forgotten woman of history, art, family saga) but I didnt connect with it in any meaningful way so it felt a bit like a slog by the end.

While I enjoyed how story driven this book was, and liked the time period and subject matter, I didn‘t really care about any of the characters too much. The audiobook narration was excellent and the time flew by, but in the end I was lukewarm on the experience.

A brief, heartbreaking, hopeful book about a twin left behind in grief when her brother dies by suicide. The first of my Man Booker International shortlist reads. #manbooker

Unputdownable journalistic memoir with loads of insight into the tech industry and a very low tolerance for bro culture and BS

Some of the most unflinching writing I‘ve ever read. And that last line is a gut punch. (Pictured my old метро stop)

I try hard to live with curiosity and compassion and it‘s rare to read a true crime book so full of both. I hope this book brings more attention to conservation efforts in the Florida Everglades in a way that effects positive change for the residents (human, plant, and animal) there.

A Holmesian mystery set in a vivid fantasy world. I was more invested in the mystery than the characters, and still didn‘t guess whodunit.

Sri Lankan slow burning supernatural horror featuring a good dose of feminine rage. Pairs well with Easter treats.

Dion Graham narrates the heck out of this true tale of shipwreck and mutiny. It reminded me of my perennial fav The Terror but truer and less supernatural.

Once again I was up all night reading. I think this character driven novel might work better as a tv show. Every character makes terrible choices at every turn, it keeps the pages turning. Not sure the pay off at the end was impactful enough for me.

The lifelong love story of two Madeiran refugees in the US. I really loved reading about the divergent paths their lives took and treasures the moments they reconnected. A little slow moving, but beautiful.

Having someone read you a Kate DiCamillo book is one of life‘s gentle pleasures.

I devoured this haunted historical fiction / fantasy in one sleepless night. Beautiful, devastating, hopeful. Highly recommended.

Im guessing Jamison‘s favourite Taylor Swift song is Mirrorball.

Food and memory are uniquely entwined. This is a sweet story of a father-daughter owned restaurant / food detective agency.

A most excellent dark sci fi technothriller. Highly recommended.

Ooof not great

5 undulating towers of rats out of 5

Deeply traumatic family saga meets dark occult horror.

A gorgeous meditation on community, grief, belonging, aging in place, gentrification. I think this one will go far in the Canada Reads debates this week.

Podcaster Bodie returns to her former boarding school and wades deep into the murder of her former roommate.

An Indigenous hockey player, journalist who has written a survival memoir, and an unfaithful university professor‘s lives Intersect in interesting ways in this horror / police procedural

I have a lifelong love of both artists‘ work so this was a dream read.

The girl from a propaganda poster grows up and is tasked with finding a missing girl. I was hooked.

I‘m not mad on faeries and saw every twist coming; still really enjoyed this one.

A one sitting whiplash inducer. There were all the twists and turns and I was there for some of them, but not all.

11 hours flew by #audiostitching to this unputdownable tale of an orphan poet obsessed with having a meaningful death after losing his mother in a planet crash when he was an infant.

Weird vibes for a lunch break read. Was ALL in until the ambiguous ending.

This is my second Michaelides and my second so so.
My journey with both was the same: sucked in, frantically turning pages, too convoluted, disinterest and sped read to the end.

I appreciate Land‘s giving public voice to single mothers living in poverty. Each family has its own story to tell, and I didn‘t find this chapter of Land‘s story as interesting as the last. A soft pick.

It was fine, I guess. The narration was good and the chapters were short.

Lots of books I feel ambivalent about lately. While I liked a few characters in this one, the book felt too overstuffed to pack much punch. Just me?

Quick but deep lunchtime read about a middle grader and their family attending a silent meditation retreat.

I have a few questions about this one. First I‘m curious why it‘s been marketed as short stories when it holds together as a novella. Second, why Canada Reads shortlist this year? I‘ll be keen to see the debate on how this book moves us forward and how long it takes for the thematic/setting twinning with Scarborough to come up.

The Witness Blanket has just arrived at our Library. I‘m somewhat overwhelmed by it and this book helps make sense of some of those feelings.

With the snow here in Vancouver, I‘ve been tearing through books. Started this one on Saturday expecting it to last the week, but I quite simply couldn‘t put it down. The reviews calling it a Shakespearean thriller are spot on. So so good.

Elsa is a gifted pianist who choked during a Rachmaninov concert. Disgraced, She‘s become a private piano teacher who sees her double regularly as she bounces about Europe. The writing is lovely - as Levy‘s always is. Recommended.

Two snow days this week meant I had loads of time to read this fascinating book about an aging poet collaborating with AI to write a poem.

My expectations for this sequel were sky high and so the novel felt a bit short. I missed Juan, found Molly‘s rhymed wisdom a bit twee-er than previously, but thoroughly enjoyed the mystery.

I liked the characters and the pacing, but the climax was historically inaccurate and that didn‘t sit well with me. Between a soft pick and a so so.

I read this in the context of the Canada Reads shortlist. I‘m not sure it brings much (anything?) to the discussion and am curious about what arguments its champion brings forward. The ending was very rushed IMHO, but I adored the description of place and Dirty Dancing vibes.

I like this series - but why do they all end on cliffhangers?!?!

Always lovely and cozy stepping into this world. I missed the friend group in this volume and enjoyed the deepening of the boys‘ relationship.

I usually don‘t love a full cast recording, but this true crime podcast inspired story really worked as an audiobook. The twists and turns were relatively easy to guess, and the ending wasn‘t my favourite, but I still loved the ride.

My partner recommended this to me and I‘ve recommended it to my teen, who described it as “like Freddy Kruger” - which it kind of was and wasn‘t. Either way I enjoyed it.

Young widow Bria works hard to open a B&B in Positano to honour her late husband‘s dream. A murder in the building threatens these plans so Bria decides to investigate. I liked the characters and didn‘t guess the murderer.

An insightful, painful, hopeful look into a piece of art created from artifacts from each of Canada‘s residential schools.

A soft pick and an easy read. An engaged couple each try and decide if they should actually get married as their wedding date looms.

A gorgeous book about parenting a new adult AND a travelogue of a second Camino. There were a few moments where I wished AM and Sam were more aware of their privileges; but in all AM is incredibly emotionally aware and it makes for compelling reading.

This quick read simply wasn‘t for me. The twists were predictable and the ending was too pat. I had no time at all for the Anthony storyline.