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miramichireader's reviews
676 reviews
West of Wawa by Lisa De Nikolits
3.0
Since Lisa sent me this book to review, I am hesitant to say anything bad about it,but I thought the story was going to be different, somehow. I was under the impression that this novel was about a woman's journey across Canada to 'find herself' and that the subject matter would be deeper, so to speak. Instead, this is straight up Chick Lit (not that there is anything wrong with that), but I found it (as a male) difficult to read. This is not a misogynist statement; I would have found it so even if the protagonist was a man.
Benny is likeable enough, but her constant reliance on prescription medication and insistence on eating healthy gets a little boring by the time she hits the Manitoba/Ontario border. I realized part way through that, as a reader, I was not getting anything positive (or negative) from this book. It was like chewing gum: no nutritional value, but your stomach thinks you are eating.
However, I will say that West of Wawa is a fun adventurous read if that is what you are looking for. A perfect book to take to the beach, read on an airplane, etc. so I gave it three stars instead of just two.
Benny is likeable enough, but her constant reliance on prescription medication and insistence on eating healthy gets a little boring by the time she hits the Manitoba/Ontario border. I realized part way through that, as a reader, I was not getting anything positive (or negative) from this book. It was like chewing gum: no nutritional value, but your stomach thinks you are eating.
However, I will say that West of Wawa is a fun adventurous read if that is what you are looking for. A perfect book to take to the beach, read on an airplane, etc. so I gave it three stars instead of just two.
Fight Back by Brent R. Sherrard
4.0
Fight Back by Brent R. Sherrard is a Young Adult (YA) novel in the SideStreets series produced by Lorimer Publishing. They are described as: "edgy, fast-paced novels that combine real-world themes and believable characters to make for short, heart-stopping books — sure to engage the most reluctant reader." This is the first book I have read of the series and I believe it fits Lorimer's description quite well. It is the story of Tyler Josten, a child who has experienced life in a toxic family: abusive father, unloving mother, both alcoholics. Tyler is no bully, but he fights out of anger and to prove himself, scarred by years of being told he is an idiot.
Taken (or rescued, really) from his father after a particularly vicious beating, his paternal Grandmother agrees to take him in, but she is only interested in playing Bingo and drinking. Finding a bottle of rum and a handgun in her home, Tyler goes out to find some fun, only to wake up in a hospital and under arrest! Things are not looking up for Tyler.
You can read the rest of the review at my site: http://miramichireader.ca
Taken (or rescued, really) from his father after a particularly vicious beating, his paternal Grandmother agrees to take him in, but she is only interested in playing Bingo and drinking. Finding a bottle of rum and a handgun in her home, Tyler goes out to find some fun, only to wake up in a hospital and under arrest! Things are not looking up for Tyler.
You can read the rest of the review at my site: http://miramichireader.ca
Drive-By Saviours by Chris Benjamin
4.0
Drive-by Saviours is like two novels in one. Each character's story could have been told with the other character relegated to a minor role in the narrative. Bumi's story is told right from the day of his birth but Mark's story unfolds in a different way; starting in the present day, with occasional flashbacks to fill in the gaps in his life story. Bumi has been in Toronto for some time before he and Mark meet on the TTC in chapter 17, almost at the exact halfway point in the book. Thereafter, they quickly become friends.
Both Mark and Bumi are dealing with a plethora of complex problems that complicate their lives: Obsessive-compulsive Disease (OCD), unfulfilling work/careers, estranged family members, bad memories from the past, physical and psychological torture, even (in Mark's case) the plight of exploited Mexican migrant farm workers just to name a few. While Bumi struggles in oppressive Indonesia, Mark (who would appear to be living the idyllic life to many, Sarah even works as a catalogue model!) struggles to cope in ways that only someone from the Western world would understand, especially not wanting anything to do with family issues. So while there are obvious dissimilarities in their characters, there are still some common things they share, such as dealing with OCD tendencies and trying to understand them. Mark, seeing Bumi act in ways his sister did, is helped to recognize the disease, then seeks to reach out to his sister living on the west coast. Thus, in a way, Bumi acts as a 'drive-by saviour' to Mark, for soon thereafter he is suddenly deported from Canada and pulled out of Mark's life while he is out west trying to reconcile with his sister Michelle.
You can read the entire review here at my site: http://miramichireader.ca
Both Mark and Bumi are dealing with a plethora of complex problems that complicate their lives: Obsessive-compulsive Disease (OCD), unfulfilling work/careers, estranged family members, bad memories from the past, physical and psychological torture, even (in Mark's case) the plight of exploited Mexican migrant farm workers just to name a few. While Bumi struggles in oppressive Indonesia, Mark (who would appear to be living the idyllic life to many, Sarah even works as a catalogue model!) struggles to cope in ways that only someone from the Western world would understand, especially not wanting anything to do with family issues. So while there are obvious dissimilarities in their characters, there are still some common things they share, such as dealing with OCD tendencies and trying to understand them. Mark, seeing Bumi act in ways his sister did, is helped to recognize the disease, then seeks to reach out to his sister living on the west coast. Thus, in a way, Bumi acts as a 'drive-by saviour' to Mark, for soon thereafter he is suddenly deported from Canada and pulled out of Mark's life while he is out west trying to reconcile with his sister Michelle.
You can read the entire review here at my site: http://miramichireader.ca
What Kills Good Men by David Hood
3.0
Any work of fiction that begins with a drunken vagrant talking to a bloated one-eyed corpse certainly has my attention, and that is the way What Kills Good Men (Vagrant Press, 2015) begins. It is the Halifax waterfront in the year 1899. The fledgling Dominion of Canada has sent troops to fight for the British Empire in the Boer War. The American Civil war is still fresh in people's minds. Halifax is a city of contrasts: poverty and subsistence in some areas of the city, wealth and power in others. Both clash in this detective novel by Halifax native David Hood.
Synopsis
Ellen Reardon (the previously mentioned vagrant) decides that the police – with whom she would normally have nothing to do with - should know about this poor soul before the next tide comes in and washes him away. Chief Inspector Culligan Baxter is assigned the case and once he sees the corpse for himself he immediately recognizes the identity of the man and the need for strict secrecy. He takes a raw recruit (Kenny Squires) into his confidence (and under his wing), not trusting in any of the other police men's capacity for discretion. Culligan Baxter is a dour, cheerless man whose strict Catholic upbringing causes him to disdain any straying away from moral issues, although he still treats persons like Ellen with respect, recognizing that they are, despite their failings, human beings. He has no love of power politics or backroom deals. All is seemingly black or white to him. Squires provides a small moderating effect, and in the few days that the story covers (each chapter of the book is one 24 hour day), he quickly matures into a decent detective himself.
What Thrilled, What Kills
I was only a few chapters into the book when I commented to my wife: "you know what kills good men? Books like this!" I was truly ready to give up on the story. It gets off to a very slow start, and reads more like a movie screenplay in that every movement, every gesture is intricately described, bogging down the story in a morass of detail. To be honest, given the setting, I was expecting more of an Arthur Conan Doyle type of writing style. Such is not the case, as the reader will see some F-bombs and descriptions of bodily functions that we could do without, thank you very much. Eventually, as more suspects and clues appear, the story picks up to the point where it actually became one of those novels that you can't put down. Characters and settings become fleshed out and the story expands to the point where Baxter doesn't know what to think or do to solve this case. As well, he is dealing with his teenage daughter (and only child) who is more interested in pursuing a career in medicine than having a family just to please her father.
Conclusion
I can envision this novel becoming a series of books with Baxter and Squires investigating crimes in and around Halifax. Baxter has his sights set on becoming Chief of Police one day and this could easily come about if the present Chief runs for Mayor, etc. The author has previously written books on nineteenth century poverty in Halifax, and this is one area in which the book excels: the description of how the poor classes live and exist in late-Victorian Halifax. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes period detective novels with the proviso to stick it out through the first few days/chapters of the book and they will be rewarded with a good read and a yearning for a sequel. What more could an author want from an ending?
Synopsis
Ellen Reardon (the previously mentioned vagrant) decides that the police – with whom she would normally have nothing to do with - should know about this poor soul before the next tide comes in and washes him away. Chief Inspector Culligan Baxter is assigned the case and once he sees the corpse for himself he immediately recognizes the identity of the man and the need for strict secrecy. He takes a raw recruit (Kenny Squires) into his confidence (and under his wing), not trusting in any of the other police men's capacity for discretion. Culligan Baxter is a dour, cheerless man whose strict Catholic upbringing causes him to disdain any straying away from moral issues, although he still treats persons like Ellen with respect, recognizing that they are, despite their failings, human beings. He has no love of power politics or backroom deals. All is seemingly black or white to him. Squires provides a small moderating effect, and in the few days that the story covers (each chapter of the book is one 24 hour day), he quickly matures into a decent detective himself.
What Thrilled, What Kills
I was only a few chapters into the book when I commented to my wife: "you know what kills good men? Books like this!" I was truly ready to give up on the story. It gets off to a very slow start, and reads more like a movie screenplay in that every movement, every gesture is intricately described, bogging down the story in a morass of detail. To be honest, given the setting, I was expecting more of an Arthur Conan Doyle type of writing style. Such is not the case, as the reader will see some F-bombs and descriptions of bodily functions that we could do without, thank you very much. Eventually, as more suspects and clues appear, the story picks up to the point where it actually became one of those novels that you can't put down. Characters and settings become fleshed out and the story expands to the point where Baxter doesn't know what to think or do to solve this case. As well, he is dealing with his teenage daughter (and only child) who is more interested in pursuing a career in medicine than having a family just to please her father.
Conclusion
I can envision this novel becoming a series of books with Baxter and Squires investigating crimes in and around Halifax. Baxter has his sights set on becoming Chief of Police one day and this could easily come about if the present Chief runs for Mayor, etc. The author has previously written books on nineteenth century poverty in Halifax, and this is one area in which the book excels: the description of how the poor classes live and exist in late-Victorian Halifax. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes period detective novels with the proviso to stick it out through the first few days/chapters of the book and they will be rewarded with a good read and a yearning for a sequel. What more could an author want from an ending?
Harbour View by Binnie Brennan
5.0
Harbour View (2009, Quattro Books) deals with the small inner world of a Halifax nursing home (called Harbour View Centre) in which each character adds notes of wistfulness, sadness, lightheartedness, even tragedy to be combined in a singular musical tapestry that reaches the heart and the mind. Ms. Brennan's follow-up volume of short stories, A Certain Grace (2012 Quattro Books) and most recently, a novel, Like any Other Monday (2014, Gaspereau Press) are equally as impressive, firmly establishing Ms. Brennan as a writer to be taken note of. Harbour View is her first novella and was the co-winner of the 2009 Ken Klonsky Novella Prize.
You can read the rest of my review here: http://miramichireader.ca/2015/08/harbour-view-review
You can read the rest of my review here: http://miramichireader.ca/2015/08/harbour-view-review
Finding Woods by Matt Mott
4.0
It has been quite some time since I have read any 'modern' horror novels. Back in my younger years I was quite a fan of Stephen King, but as I got older my reading tastes changed to literature and history with the occasional novel or book of short stories thrown in for variety. Recently I was alerted to the fact that a Miramichi resident (who has since moved to Saint John) has written a book that I should take a look at. I was able to get a review copy of Finding Woods by Matt Mott (2014, Montag Press) from the author himself. On the back cover is a review quote I thought was interesting:
"Finding Woods is a tough, unflinching collection of smart horror"- Eden Robinson, author of Traplines and Monkey Beach.
Smart Horror
Smart horror as opposed to dumb horror, like all those Saturday matinée b-movies I watched and cheap horror magazines such as Weird, Eerie and Creepy that I read as a teen. Oh, there were some good tales in them, but they definitely lacked in intelligence. Then I started reading Edgar Allan Poe and H.P. Lovecraft whose stories, although written in a past age, had (and still have) the innate ability to worm their way into the mind and make you ponder the possibilities of the imagination. Matt Mott pays tribute to those master storytellers in Finding Woods.
You can read the rest of my review here: http://wp.me/p60sTD-8T
"Finding Woods is a tough, unflinching collection of smart horror"- Eden Robinson, author of Traplines and Monkey Beach.
Smart Horror
Smart horror as opposed to dumb horror, like all those Saturday matinée b-movies I watched and cheap horror magazines such as Weird, Eerie and Creepy that I read as a teen. Oh, there were some good tales in them, but they definitely lacked in intelligence. Then I started reading Edgar Allan Poe and H.P. Lovecraft whose stories, although written in a past age, had (and still have) the innate ability to worm their way into the mind and make you ponder the possibilities of the imagination. Matt Mott pays tribute to those master storytellers in Finding Woods.
You can read the rest of my review here: http://wp.me/p60sTD-8T