Excellent read! Pleasantly surprised as how *not* dry this book was. While it‘s packed full of facts, details & information, it also flows like a good story. Very well written IMO and a must-read for anyone interested in coal mining, Nova Scotia, Springhill, the Singing Miner, Canadian history /non-fiction- the list goes on. Such a good book!

Such a tragic story. Very well written and researched. It isn‘t an easy book to read but I think an important one about Canadian law & justice.

After finishing “Before We Were Yours”, I was pleased to discover that the time, effort and work had been put into creating a non-fiction book about this despicable part of US history. A moving account of the many many lives Georgia Tann affected, this is well worth reading.

A bestseller for a reason! A moving, tragic story based on equally as moving and tragic real life events. The fact that evil people like Georgia Tann exist is something not to be forgotten. These children are not to be forgotten. The non-fiction “Before and After” is worth your time and attention also.

There once was a little boy who suffered the worst, most unimaginable tragedy and then had to find his way with little support and lots of media attention. It‘s a complicated family, in a complicated era and Harry is just one of them trying to find his way and do what he feels is right. Worth reading.

This is a great read for anyone interested in the history of the Dust Bowl. Since it is non-fiction, it‘s hard for the author to make it explosive and suspenseful, and let‘s be honest - what‘s explosive and suspenseful about living 5+ years in a drought?? The author portrays the daily grind, the daily battle with Mother Nature very well IMO. This is well written, interesting and well worth the time if the topic is of interest to you. Recommended.

I thoroughly enjoyed this well-written book, this is a piece of American history that should be more widely known (hopefully it will soon since it‘s being made into a movie). The fact that such deception, racism and corruption was not only permitted but accepted is shocking and utterly disgusting. I guess I can understand why some people would like to bury this part of history but it really needs to be told.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The subject was pretty unique considering the locale, and it was well written. The only thing I didn‘t like was the repeated full-length quotes of historical accounts of the mystery “beast”. I felt like this was either done as a filler or on the pretence that the reader couldn‘t recall the details on their own. Either way, I felt it wasn‘t necessary and affected the flow.

While this book is worth reading, the middle drags on about one particular group who used the pigeons and then ended up in the hands of the Germans. I preferred the beginning and end which highlighted more specific actions of the pigeons and how they impacted the War. Worth reading overall for information/topic but not what I was hoping for when I picked this up. The language, flow and writing were excellent though.

Given the nature of this book, obviously not an easy read. I believe this is an important piece of literature and eye-opening as to the complacency the world showed Rwanda and it‘s people.

Currently reading this, I became aware of Dr. Jody Carrington through my own career, but learned of this book from my husband, who is a teacher. Holy. Smokes. Do you have kids? Work with kids? Regularly occupy the same space as small humans? Read. This. Book! So good!

Such a nice book!

If you have any interest in Northern Ireland‘s tumultuous and complicated history, this is a good read.

A well-written, if complicated, read. This is my first Michael Crummey book and, although parts of this book were difficult to get through, his writing style was so enjoyable that I would definitely read more by him.

Not quite done yet but this is a page-turner! Well written and eye-opening. Definitely recommend!

“I am doomed to remember a boy with a wrecked voice - not because of his voice, or because he was the smallest person I ever knew, or even because he was the instrument of my mother‘s death, but because he is the reason I believe in God; I am a Christian because of Owen Meany.” Re-reading a favourite. Hooks you from the first sentence!

A truly incredible story. A review won‘t do this justice, you simply must read it yourself!

I tried to really like this but just couldn‘t get there. I normally love historical fiction but I found this one disjointed and too many characters involved, especially bouncing back and forth between the Caribou and the U-boat crew. Saddened this wasn‘t what I was expecting, hope others have more luck!

I appreciate the writing but I preferred the point of view from To Kill A Mockingbird - I sometimes regret seeing the world from a grown-up Scout‘s perspective.

The 2nd of 3 books following members of the Bird family, Indigenous people of N. Ontario. I‘d give the edge to Three Day Road but I also really enjoyed this one & was easily invested in the characters. It is a bit difficult if you read about Mr. Boyden‘s himself to reconcile some stuff he‘s said in the media but I think regardless, a well written book highlighting Canada‘s Indigenous peoples is to be appreciated and enjoyed.

A perfect follow-up to Larson‘s “In the Garden of Beasts”. Not just another book about Churchill, this uses excerpts from diaries and builds scenes with enough detail to make this book flow and feel like one is getting a sneak peak into history. An excellent read!

This was the first of Madeline Miller‘s books that I‘ve read, Circe being the other. I picked Achilles because it was on all the lists (lol) and I needed something to read. I am admittedly more drawn to non-fiction books but these two books by Miller have become new faves and she is now an author who I‘ll read whatever she writes! So interesting, well written and so different! If you haven‘t tried one of her books, I urge you to!

This is the second of Madeline Miller‘s books that I‘ve read, Song of Achilles being the first. I picked Achilles because it was on all the lists (lol) and I needed something to read. I am admittedly more drawn to non-fiction books but these two books by Miller have become new faves and she is now an author who I‘ll read whatever she writes! So interesting, well written and so different! If you haven‘t tried one of her books, I urge you to!

Certainly a difficult read at many points but something so worth reading. Well written and so very unique - almost everyone deserted Rwanda so of course there aren‘t any other books out there quite like this one!! Aside from a great book, it also makes me very proud to be Canadian.

A Prayer for Owen Meany…one of my all time favourite books and one I think of often even though I read it over 20 years ago. Well written, thought-provoking and just a beautiful book.

Well written, interesting perspective. Worth the read!!

As expected, another book I enjoyed by Erik Larson. While I find books about WWII interesting, I especially appreciate ones from a different perspective or time. This is very well written IMO and brings you the lead-up to the world realizing how dangerous (and out of control) Nazi Germany had become.