This is the story of Starr, a sixteen-year-old from south central L.A. – not the part of L.A. where white people live in big houses, but the part they stay well clear of. But Starr doesn’t quite fit in. She and her brother go to a private school 45 minutes drive from home, where READ MORE
Category: Fiction
THE SUNDAY REVIEW | THE BOOKSHOP – PENELOPE FITZGERALD
This book appealed to me because A) it’s short and B) it’s about a bookshop, and anything set in a bookshop has my interest. And it’s really because of point A that I actually made it through the whole book, because…. well, I’m not even really sure where to start with this one. On READ MORE
THE SUNDAY REVIEW | COVENTRY – HELEN HUMPHREYS
I went into this book not knowing what to expect. I really just picked it up on a whim since it’s such a small book and I was curious to find out what it was all about. It’s the story of Maeve, who is a firewatcher on Coventry Cathedral the fateful night (November 14, READ MORE
THE SUNDAY REVIEW | THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY – MARY ANN SHAFFER & ANNIE BARROWS
I’ve had this book sitting on my shelf for… I don’t even know how long, but definitely years. And it’s not like I didn’t know it would be good. I’d been told. Several times, and by a few different people whose opinions of books I trust. So I have no idea why I waited so READ MORE
THE SUNDAY REVIEW | I HUNT KILLERS – BARRY LYGA
I’ve had this on my shelf for a very long time, and when I was going through my hidden books on one of the double-stacked shelves looking for some to get rid of, I figured I might as well give this one a try. It’s the story of Jasper Dent, whose father is the READ MORE
THE SUNDAY REVIEW | PIGS IN HEAVEN – BARBARA KINGSOLVER
***WARNING: Contains spoilers for The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver*** In the sequel to Barbara Kingsolver’s The Bean Trees, we catch up with a slightly more mature and settled Taylor, who is living with her musician boyfriend Jax and her adopted daughter Turtle, now six. But of course, things can’t stay calm and secure for long. As READ MORE
THE SUNDAY REVIEW | BEFORE WE WERE STRANGERS – RENEE CARLINO
I’ve heard Renee Carlino’s name around for a while now, but never got around to any of her books. I went in with only a vaguely fuzzy idea of what the book was about, mostly because I was bored one day, and it was there. It’s the story of first love, loss and the READ MORE
THE SUNDAY REVIEW | BORN WEIRD – ANDREW KAUFMAN
I thought this book was going to be quirky going into it, but I was still surprised. This is the story of the Weird family, five siblings whose lives have been overshadowed by unique character traits that have both protected and hamstringed them. We first meet Angie, who has been called to her grandmother’s READ MORE
THE SUNDAY REVIEW | THE QUEEN OF BRIGHT AND SHINY THINGS – ANN AGUIRRE
I discovered Ann Aguirre via her Razorland Trilogy (Enclave, Outpost and Horde), which I started reading thanks to a tip from a fellow book lover on Twitter and ended up loving. So when this one came out, I just had to find out if her storytelling chops translate from fantasy to contemporary. Lucky for READ MORE
THE SUNDAY REVIEW | SHADOW AND BONE – LEIGH BARDUGO
If you read YA books and haven’t been living under a rock, this series has been on your radar for a couple of years now. It’s been Tweeted about, quoted, squeed over and highly anticipated. As usual, I put off reading it because I’m wary of hype and worry that books won’t live up READ MORE
THE SUNDAY REVIEW | SIMON VS. THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA – BECKY ALBERTALLI
This book has been on my radar for months, mostly due to the hundreds of pictures featuring it along with packages of Oreos on my Twitter feed. I put off reading it half because I was scared it wouldn’t live up to the hype, and half because if it did, I wanted to save READ MORE
THE SUNDAY REVIEW | DIETLAND – SARAI WALKER
It’s not hard to see why everyone has been talking about Dietland. This is a book that will challenge you. It’ll challenge you to think about your prejudices and pre-conceptions, it’ll make you uncomfortable, and it’ll even make you think about your ideas of wrong and right. Which makes it sound heavy and serious READ MORE
THE SUNDAY REVIEW | THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS – M.R. CAREY
I read this book as a buddy read with Katie and Shaina, which was actually a really good thing, because I don’t think I would have stuck with it if I hadn’t been accountable to two other people. Which would have been my loss, because once I got past the initial world-building and slow beginning, it READ MORE
THE SUNDAY REVIEW | THE RED NOTEBOOK – ANTOINE LAURAIN
I can’t recall where I heard about this book, but I wish I did so I could thank the blogger who pointed me to such a brilliant discovery. This book had everything I was in the mood for when I picked it up: books, whimsy, mystery, Paris and a fair dose of extraordinary circumstance. READ MORE
THE SUNDAY REVIEW | THE GOLD EATERS – RONALD WRIGHT
Ronald Wright’s newest book is a brilliant and epic work of historical fiction set in 16th century Peru. It begins with a young Peruvian boy called Waman. Waman lives in a small fishing village on the coast with his parents and cousin, Tika. At the cusp of manhood, Waman is itching to experience the READ MORE
THE SUNDAY REVIEW | THE READERS OF BROKEN WHEEL RECOMMEND – KATARINA BIVALD
There’s nothing I love more than meeting a character in a book who shares my love of reading. From Helene Hanff in 84 Charing Cross Road to A.J. Fikry and Amelia in The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry to Matilda in Roald Dahl’s beloved book of the same name to Anne in Anne of READ MORE
THE SUNDAY REVIEW | PURITY – JONATHAN FRANZEN
I’ve been seeing Jonathan Franzen’s books around for years, but to this point hadn’t actually read any of them (admittedly their length intimidated me somewhat). So when the book fairy (AKA Random House Canada) delivered an ARC of his upcoming novel, Purity, to my mailbox, it seemed that fate had intervened. I went into READ MORE
BOOK REVIEW | BREAM GIVES ME HICCUPS – JESSE EISENBERG
Every once in a while, you just need some comic relief. I’ve laughed my ass off at Jesse Eisenberg’s comic portrayals over the years, my favourite of his films was Zombieland – because of course – but I also enjoyed Adventureland and admired his acting chops in The Social Network. He’s firmly earned a place READ MORE