I read pure fantasy infrequently, though the ones I have read I have enjoyed for the most part. Witchlanders, the debut novel by Lena Coakley, falls into that category. Full disclosure: I picked it up only because I heard her speak at a recent conference where she was accepting an award. I very much likedContinue reading “Book Review: Witchlanders by Lena Coakley”
Author Archives: linabranter
Books: Thoughts on Alice Bliss by Laura Harrington
There are some books that pry long-forgotten memories out of the dusty corners of your brain, unfold them on a table and force you to look at them. Alice Bliss was like this for me. Alice Bliss is a 14-year old girl who loves her father very much. So when his reserve unit is calledContinue reading “Books: Thoughts on Alice Bliss by Laura Harrington”
I Want my Children to be Inspired by these Women of 2012
Because I am inspired by these women. It occurred to me last night, while I was watching the wonderful two piece band UN and thinking how much I would have liked my daughters to have seen them, that the year 2012 was marked by some pretty extraordinary women role models. So here is a listContinue reading “I Want my Children to be Inspired by these Women of 2012”
Book review: Invisible World by Suzanne Weyn
It is rare that I give a completely negative review. However, it is also rare that I read a book as bad as this one. I think it deserves to be talked about as it illustrates many of the Do Nots that I try to avoid in my own writing. I am also helping aContinue reading “Book review: Invisible World by Suzanne Weyn”
Book Review: This Dark Endeavour by Kenneth Oppel
I love Kenneth Oppel. Well, at least I love his books. His Airborn series was one of the best middle grade series I have ever read. The only reason why I did not read his bat series is because a personal disinclination towards talking animals (unless it is Manchee from the Knife of Never LettingContinue reading “Book Review: This Dark Endeavour by Kenneth Oppel”
Random Thoughts on Prep by Curtis Sittenfield
It is that time of year again, the time of year when I gravitate towards book that punch me in the gut. Either because the character is so palpable I feel like I know them intimately (A Complicated Kindness), or because the book introduces me to so many new and beautiful ideas I want toContinue reading “Random Thoughts on Prep by Curtis Sittenfield”
I Miss Beautiful Ideas: Thoughts on The Dispossessed
I miss beautiful ideas. More specifically, I miss reading a book where, interspersed with an intense and riveting story, are beautiful ideas. Ideas about how the world should work, about the human condition. Ideas to make the soul and brain expand. (and no, I am not talking about unfortunate bloating or swelling. Expanding in theContinue reading “I Miss Beautiful Ideas: Thoughts on The Dispossessed”
What I Read When I Was Young
Do you remember what you read when you were a kid? I have been wracking my brain ever since I read the Jo Walton book, Among Others, and can only come up with a few titles. And I seriously did go to the library every week with a stack of books to return and alwaysContinue reading “What I Read When I Was Young”
Black Friday: A Detective Story (Redux)
In Honour of all those crazy shoppers out there, here is my first attempt (and perhaps my last) at a detective story. I posted this last year, but here it is because, well, because it is just so darn appropriate for today…
Review of 1982 by Jian Ghomeshi
I went to Jian Ghomeshi’s launch of his new book, 1982 in early October. Though it took me a while to warm up to Mister Ghomeshi when his dulcet tones began to waft from the maw of CBC Radio 1, he has since become one of my favourite radio personalities. He is smart, finds amazingContinue reading “Review of 1982 by Jian Ghomeshi”
Lina Branter 