Look what my son picked out for me. An Anne of Green Gables journal! He knows me so well. It combines two of my most favourite things - AOGG and journalling. Such a sweet surprise from my oldest boy. Don‘t tell my other two kids but right now this child is my favorite! 😂

Finished this book. I cried with such emotion. Such a devastating affliction - dementia. I hope to meet Elizabeth Hay at Read By the Sea in River John , Nova Scotia this summer #readbythesea#elizabethhay

Tea in my Nova Scotia mug. Nova Scotia tartan pillow made by a friend and a lovely historical fiction novel set in my beloved Nova Scotia and written to perfection as Mahrie can. The perfect way to spend my Sunday afternoon. Check out the Canadian Historical Brides Collection, each one written by a different author and set in a different province. It seemed only right that I would start with the N.S. part of the collection.

After reading The Red Address Book I was determined to find my own pink address book - I FOUND IT!!! Took my own trip down memory lane, just like Doris, the book‘s main character, did.

Such a lovely read. This book kept me company while recovering from a surgery. It made me think of my girlhood pink address book and it was a trip down memory lane to thumb through it. Memories, sadness, hope and joy pervade the pages of this book. The perfect companion while I recuperated. You will laugh, gasp, cry and rejoice along with Doris as she recalls the amazing moments in her life while thinning through her red address book.

Finished. An unknown to me war story of women who helped the war effort, but of which so little is known. Pam Jenoff doesn‘t disappoint and provides further reading suggestions for the real story behind this historical fiction. Google Vera Atkins. #pamjenoff#paris

Anyone who knows me knows my ALL-TIME FAVOURITE book is Anne of Green Gables! Since I first read it when I was 10 years old it has given me solace, hope and joy. Every time I read it (and I have read it MANY times) I laugh at the same moments and cry at the same moments. Every time I read it I am “home.” I have quite a collection of L.M. Montgomery books and books about her. Her personal journals are heartbreaking.

Received this book as an ARC from Harper Collins Canada. Sped through the pages of this book. A beautiful story filled with family secrets that tear families apart and the stories that sustain and heal when needed most. I felt such an affinity for the main character, Martha. I am always a pushover when it comes to books about libraries or bookshops. This one has both and it didn‘t disappoint.

Just finished listening to this on audio. Interesting tidbits about famous authors and their families. Up close and personal. Enjoyed this immensely. It was like condensed biographies of each author explored.

“Someone sets the tone in a house.” #readlocal#readcanadian#readbythesea2019

While in Australia this month, I checked out Australian authors and books about Australian wildlife after visiting Featherdale Wildlife Park and seeing wombats up close I loved reading this delightfully written and illustrated picture book about an adorable little wombat. #jackiefrench#brucewhatley#featherdalewildlifesanctuary#australianauthors

Delving into this for my early morning reading today. Looking forward to discussing this with two of my favourite literary ladies. #pamjenoff#hcc

In keeping with my passion for reading Canadian authors and local to me authors in general I was thrilled to pick this up from the library. I hope to meet Shaun Hunter one day soon and will purchase a copy before then so I can have her sign it for me. #readlocal#readCanadian#yycauthors

After reading this book I gifted it to several of my friends. The award winning author has a wonderful back story on how she came to writing. She is currently working on book #2 in this series. I loved the historical aspect of this fast paced, well written book. I believe in reading local and this author lives right in my community. Our sons actually played hockey together! You won‘t regret a moment you spend with this book. #readlocalauthors

Heartbreaking. Incredibly insightful portrayal of ALS and its devastating consequences. A beautiful depiction of lives torn apart by decisions and lives healed through repentance. I was completely trapped in ALS‘s grip through Lisa Genova‘s carefully crafted words and descriptions. #lisagenova@lisagenova

sassy_steph at Chapters Crowfoot with Calgary author Tim Tamashiro and his new book! #readyyc#readlocalauthors#timtamashiro#cbcbooks#ikigai#sassy_steph

Such a heartbreaking read about the devastating progression of ALS. Reading this on my kindle and feeling the profound loss of the main character. Lisa Genova has captured the loss in beautifully written sentences. #als#loss#everynoteplayed#lisagenova

Hilarious! Annie Spence has given us a delightful bunch of letters to books. Some are love letters, some break up letters and a few might be classified as hate mail, but even those letters are clever, witty and just plain good reading. I loved this book. Would love to read it again. But my letter to Annie would read “ dang you Annie Spence. You have added even more books to my TBR!!!” #anniespence#dearfarenheit451#tbrpile

Post it notes are so helpful. Already have a few in the first pages I‘ve read. #postitnotes#iainmccallum

This was the perfect Australian beach read. By an Australian author. Everything I love about this book - the women, the books, wine, book club, book recommends (my TBR list just got longer) and the setting. I just visited the Blue Mountains and the sweet little town of Leura so had a vivid picture of all places mentioned in the book. ❤️ #lizbyrski

Bought these four books at Books and Bits bookshop in Redcliffe, Australia. Wonderful little shop. Lots of reading time coming up on my 13.5 hour plane trip back to Canada. Have wanted to read Dawn French for a while. #dawnfrench#australia#celticlegends

Another vacation read. YA. I loved the “other” world of The Woodlands. I so understood Evelyn‘s yearning to return having been unwilling taken back to her own world. Heartbreaking decisions. Best intentions. Exquisite language. A lovely book for our young readers who like Narnia and that genre. I enjoyed it very much.

On the Come Up.Received as an ARC from #HCC (thanks Cory!). I LOVED THUG.Still get goosebumps when I think about it or recommend to customers. Not so with Angie‘s latest book. I got bogged down in the first person narrative and I didn‘t feel the characters like I did in THUG.I expected to like this book.Sad I didn‘t.Love listening to Angie Thomas interviews. She is an important author for this generation. Don‘t let my review stop you from reading.

First read of 2017. My book club is reading this one for discussion. Love that I have a signed copy of this one. Such a great read. My favourite line in the book - "There didn't need to be an end, and as long as there was love, the rest could fall away." This is the poignant revelation Cea has after years of emotional struggle with her mother and the life she came to live with her counter culture family.

If you haven't already read this book - Eleanor, Beatrice and Adelaide ("Moth" of The Virgin Cure) are three fictional ladies I wish I had known. I feel I do know them in real life in the many strong, passionate women I know and respect today. The history of New York and the terrible fate that met so many of these women/witches are interwoven in the pages of this book. Don't say "witch" like it's a bad thing.

A refreshing read. Zoe learns that good can come from bad and that being an "imaginer" can be a great accomplishment. Perfect for the 9-12 year old in your life.

Lesley Crewe never disappoints me. Her characters always feel like people I knew in my "growing up" years in small town Nova Scotia. I love that the curmudgeonly character shows their soft side, the seemingly unredeemable is redeemed and the nice character finds happiness. A wonderful Christmas time read

If the cover of this picture book isn't enough to make you want to read it, then you will miss out on the wonderful story Jory John has given us. Penguin gets a visit from a wise walrus who puts his "problems" in perspective. Some days we could all use a wise walrus in our lives. Lane Smith's illustrations are a delight! Thank you, Penguin Random House for the copy as requested.

For Bronte lovers. A modern day Bronte story with all its tragic elements, attention to detail and researched information of the Bronte sister's own lives thrown in. Enjoyed the read and enjoyed learning more about the Brontes.

The language in this book is sure to appeal to the adult but the story of loss, hope, deception and determination will appeal to adult and child alike. Rachel overcoming devastating adversity for ultimate triumph will warm you heart. Perfect for the 9 and up crowd. A great read aloud book for the family.

Kate Beasley's Gertie is a strong-willed, modern day Anne of Green Gables. Gertie has a knack for misunderstandings. Gertie has "missions" that never seem to go quite as she plans but somehow work out. The cast of supporting characters is lovable, especially Aunt Rae. Perfect Christmas gift for your middle grade reader.

A strange little book about a nightmarish library. Weird, creepy and just this side of terrifyingly frightening. Murakami has delivered another book that leaves me reeling and head scratching. The book itself is unique in concept and execution. A must read for Murakami fans and I know you are out there!

Oh. My. Gosh. Got to meet Ami McKay tonight and have my signed copy of her new book! She was absolutely lovely. Feeling star struck. She gave me a hug! Such an amazing author. Will do review soon.

Going to see Ami McKay at the John Dutton Theatre tomorrow night!!! So excited. One of my all-time favorite authors. Have my book all ready to be signed!

I'm a sucker for these kind of "list" books. I know they are subjective but still enjoy looking through them. Picked this one up at work the other night. Sadly I was grown up before I read a lot of these. Some, of course, hadn't been published when I was young so I can be forgiven for that fact. Have a look. See how many you have read. There are some great titles in this book

"An impossibility is just a possibility you don't understand yet." A wonderful YA novel about a boy called Nicolas who found his way to becoming Father Christmas. A great pre-Christmas holiday read for 9-12 year olds.

Everything you would expect in a Mike Meyers book about Canada. Funny. Bright. Full of insight into what makes Canadians Canadian! I enjoyed this read and brushes up on everything I didn't learn in high school about Canada.#nonfictionNovember

Exquisite writing. Beautifully haunting story. I think this will become my second favorite read of 2015 after The Atomic Weight of Love. Finished it last night and can't even think about beginning a new book. This one needs quiet reflection and I need to mourn the end of reading this while savouring the memory. Please read it.

Snowing in Calgary. Perfect day to curl up with Robert Munsch and "indoor snowman" friends! Robert Munsch Canadian children's book author extraordinaire!

Just added this one to my #nonfictionNovember reading pile.

My husband and I read Yann's book before flying to Portugal for our October vacatiion. We found English copies in Portuguese bookstores which was fun. We both had lots of questions after reading just like we did after Life of Pi. Martel certainly gives lots of "good for thought" in his books.

PLEASE READ THIS GRAPHIC NOVEL. Thank you Gord Downie and Jeff Lemire for putting this important story out into the world. I hope this becomes required reading for all Canadian schools in the very near future. We must remember the past so we are not doomed to repeat these things in the future. Hope everyone also has a chance to see the CBC animated special.

I went looking for Canadian authors in the children's section of the World's Oldest Bookstore (Bertrand's Books) in Lisbon, Portugal. Marie-Louise Gay's wonderful picture book WHAT ARE YOU DOING SAM? - in Portuguese - is now coming home to Calgary with me. Bertrand's Bookshop was established in 1732, destroyed in the great Lisbon earthquake of 1755, moved to the location it now occupies in 1773. That is a lot of years of books!

I originally put this book on my TBR pile because I loved the cover, but reading reviews and blurbs has made me want to read it even more.

First published in 1959 this literary ghost story has stood the test of time for me! Deliciously creepy, psychologically intense and downright scary. Loved it. #allhallowsread

Met this wonderful author at Lethbridge Word on the Street. I have added this to my TBR pile. Always excited to meet and read Alberta authors. Such a lovely lady and I expect a marvellous writer.

I had high hopes for this one. I was so disappointed. It was so unbelievable and the ending was the very cliche of anticlimactic! This book was an Independent Booksellers award winner. I would not be able to recommend it for an award or otherwise.

A good story and a new take on creation vs evolution and forbidden fruit and the tree of love. Good character development except for one glaring omission at the end when one very central character's fate was not mentioned. I found that annoying. Otherwise a good read and great discussion book for a YA book club or classroom.

Every October I re-read at least one story from this book. I cherish this book and the Nova Scotia stories and superstitions that Helen Creighton had the wherewithal to collect and write down for generations. I grew up hearing these stories and seeing how the superstitions governed the people of my small fishing town. ❤️Nimbus Publishing now classifies this as one of their classics. It truly deserves that distinction and more!

I read this to my kids all those years ago. Perfect picture book to compliment your DVD copy of the classic '60's cartoon.