In the Skin of a Lion by Michael Ondaatje My rating: 3 of 5 stars There is no disputing the literary skill of Michael Ondaatje. His works have been captivating readers for decades. However, it would be unreasonable for anyone to expect every work any artist creates to be extraordinary. And such is the case, in my opinion, with In the Skin of a Lion. It is an ambitious novel which encompasses the lives of…
Five Little Indians by Michelle Good My rating: 3 of 5 stars It is important to begin this review with the fact I’m Caucasian, first generation Italian, third generation Irish, born in Canada, live a life which many would call privileged, but would do so without understanding of family background, struggle, trauma. I do understand being a victim. But I do not have an understanding of residential school trauma. Having said all that, I do…
I am just thrilled to learn my recent novel, The Rose Guardian, has been reviewed by Robert Runté in The Ottawa Review of Books. How amazing is that? The full review is here: It starts with a funeral. Una Cotter is dead, and her sixty-something daughter, Vi, is left to sort out her feelings about her mother, her family, her childhood, and her ambiguous inheritance. One cannot but grieve the passing of one’s mother, but when Una…
Barkskins by Annie Proulx My rating: 1 of 5 stars Apparently I really am not a fan of anything Annie Proulx writes. I found The Shipping News lacking in real understanding of, and research into, life in Newfoundland, Brokeback Mountain infuriatingly misrepresentative of gay life and understanding, and I’ve found the same true in Barkskins. However, at least with the former novels there was a clear end in sight. The novels did tie up all…
Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee My rating: 5 of 5 stars If a person were to write only two books in their lifetime of the calibre of Harper Lee’s small canon, then they would have achieved something very great indeed. While I realize there was much controversy surrounding Lee’s sequel to To Kill a Mockingbird, which I first discovered and loved in English literature class in secondary school, for this devotee of literature…