I love her writing style. The story with Annie Muktuk was great - nice to revisit this character.

Great book! I liked the sci-fi story that still maintained connections with reality. I love that that Gaspry and Talia ended up together

Oh wow, this book made me think and feel a lot. The deeply rich family saga jumps around in time - and by the end the reader knows more than the protagonist. It is well written and beautiful and sad. Recommend!

This is well written- much like Giovanni‘s Room, the plot is spare and told slowly over time. The evangelist Christians do not come away well - John and Elisha have the benefit of you the on their side. But Gabriel‘s sins are many, and made worse by his righteous attitude towards his deeds. I‘m glad for his sister, setting him straight, and giving the story hope for Elizabeth and John.

Great story! Told as a series of vignettes with significant people/relationships in her life, Ruby is a lovely complicated character

I love her honest description of motherhood. At times frustrating, boring, terrifying, and yet she describes her lover for her daughter so fiercely

This was one of the best books I‘ve read in a long time. What honest, funny, sad tale of family and friendship. True and necessary reading for any settlers in Edmonton and Alberta

I liked this book a lot. Necessary to normalize sex work, and the people and places where sex happens. A line I liked: people have sex for thousands of reasons, we have sex for money.

She‘s a great writer, so I enjoyed this book. I wanted more detail about the man who locks himself in the room - he seems kind and well adjusted in everyone‘s telling or interactions with him - is that why he does it? For a break from reality? Some characters are horrible, but mostly kind and funny and normal people

The timeline jumps around, the narrative is subtle. The characters are complex and relatable. Interesting to read a story set in Haiti

Such a beautiful moving tale of a mother and daughter traveling together.

I really wanted to like this book. Unfortunately, I didn‘t find any of the characters particularly sympathetic. I think we were supposed to be interested in the ultra conservative character‘s backstory - insights into why he is how he is, but I just found him disgusting. The logistical aspects of abortions were interesting. And I liked the cannabis dealer, but that‘s it in the end.

I really liked this book. She is a funny and smart writer (this was more lighthearted in some ways than Glass Beads), creating a vivid world with flawed and likeable characters. I‘d like to read more mid-century indigenous fiction

Didn‘t like this memoir as much as per previous book (maybe to do with setting), but has a beautiful voice. Especially the attention paid to the natural world, even within a city

I liked it, but there was a lot going on. I wish the two story lines could have been intertwined better. Or separated? Especially as it was such a long book. There isn‘t a traditional bogging middle end but rather a narrative of a life. Many characters were very lovable. I‘m glad the queer characters and love were so richly drawn

Very good. Compact story of duty to family and self. Explores turning a blind eye vs following moral obligation. The protagonist is very likeable and believable.

Big Maggie O‘Farrell fan, but this is not her best. The end is too ambiguous, but hints at a character taking a dramatic shift that doesn‘t seem true to her previous actions/self.

Interesting insights into other cultures who have different attitudes to consumerism or have had other experiences with capitalism. Sickening to think about how much we consume, but good reminder that change is possible and good examples of people who are doing it better

I didn‘t like this - seems like the whole piece with the Serbian warlord (?) would have been better from someone with that cultural experience. The scenes in Ireland were well told, better story if just from those view points

Quick paced, which good messages about friendship and loyalty and teamwork

I liked it. Quick read but sharp and well observed. Some bits date the novel somewhat, but overall the story is good

He is such a good writer! Interesting and different writing style, but such beautiful prose and this story of two men with complicated relationships with their families and each other was very well told. I hope they stay together!

I liked this! Some essays obviously better than others, but she is a strong writer. I was especially moved by the story of her friend who is dying

Fascinating examination into sexuality. I really liked it and would recommend it for anyone

I liked the themes and ideas. And I love the idea of prioritizing your friends - felt like it could have been an essay however

I liked it, although it didn‘t end how I thought it would. Characters surprised me, especially Roger, the husband. I wanted the story of Phylis to end neater, but that‘s maybe part of her character: not as definable.

Very interesting (and likely distinctive, only book I‘ve read so far) style. It was honest about grief and families. Want to read more Elizabeth Strout

I liked this book! Interesting bits about Antarctic, but the really interesting parts were about the aphasia and the marriage.

Love short stories, and she‘s a great writer. Cool to hear first person own voices from an area of the world I know to little about

This was interesting. She has a very distinct style. No one character was all good or all bad. I felt like lots of people “got what was coming to them” Telling the narrative of revolution by workers through the lens of women was very good

This was good. It takes close reading to understand Rachel Cusk, but is worth it. So many insights on life wrapped up in the narrative. The story didn‘t go in the direction I thought it would, but was satisfying

Really enjoyed this. Heard rather than read this book. It was such a good meditation on love and death

I enjoyed the half featuring Pia more - perhaps because it was more linear? But overall enjoyed the book. Spare writing with overlapping clues. Would recommend

Strange and beautifully written. It follows a non-linear timeline. The relationship between the grandmother and granddaughter is beautiful. Will read again

Quick intense read. So cool to read about queer, poly relationships within Canada. Really enjoyed!

Some of his stories/musings about the female students in his acting class are dated. In fact, the scenes at the acting school in general are not super strong. The stories and memories about his grandparents however are so funny and warm and familiar, that they carry the book

Interesting story, but the writing could have been better. I was more invested in some stories than others, and I would have wanted a more satisfying ending - more info on the virus?

Loved this book! A beautiful story about women‘s strength and courage and love

This was amazing! Each story featuring strong, scared, interesting, flawed, smart women. Honest stories, often with open or unsettling endings

This was part memoir part deep dive into the history of an unknown to me famous Irish poet. As always, there is scant info about women, but the narrtest the author weaves or guesses or imagined is wonderful. Her own story is also told with honesty and love. Great writer!

It was strange, the way her books often are. But I liked it. Might require a second read

Strange beautiful stories. Really enjoyed. Centred often on women.

Such a nice story! Well written and thoughtful on grief and relationships, we‘ll defined women. All wrapped up in a page turner!

I loved this book! She has such a beautiful voice and is a very gifted storyteller. Her characters aren‘t perfect but are real and sympathetic

This was a well written memoir, and honest. She didn‘t sugar coat any details, or tie up the truth in a more palpable narrative

I liked this. Very conversational. Some essays where stronger than others, but overall enjoyed the candid and funny and informative views on very prescient issues

Lots of interesting interwoven stories. Very Alberta. The history was cool to see. Some threads worked more than others

Written in his very distinct style. Absolutely a book and stories for another time. But enduring themes - and the sibling relationship ships are beautiful

This was an interesting book - nothing like anything is read. They are a great writer - beautiful prose. I liked the letter format. At times however, the overall narrative flow didn‘t seem very cohesive. There was a disconnect, for me, with the materialistic capitalistic desires and pursuits that are very normal in life, and the discussion on being a deity or god

So strange, but good. A fairytale interspersed with an end of the world adventure. I think “monster” ie the centaurs, we‘re placeholders for anyone unusual or different.