Staff Review: Speak, Silence

Title/Author: Speak, Silence - Kim Echlin

Genre(s): Literary Fiction, Politics

One of my favourites of 2021. This is a literary novel of high style & hushed brilliance with a singular, lasting power. There’s not a wasted word anywhere, and it’s damned-near perfect!

Reviewed by: David

Staff Review: Nottingham: The True Story of Robyn Hood

Title/Author: Nottingham: The True Story of Robyn Hood - Anna Burke

Genre(s): Historical Fiction, Retellings, LGBTQ+

Another fantastic retelling of a classic story, this book tells the ‘true’ story of Robin Hood: that the legendary outlaw of Sherwood Forest was actually a woman, and still in love with maid Marian, in spite of her being the daughter of Robyn’s hated enemy, the Sheriff of Nottingham. A wonderful intersectional feminist retelling of the famous story, Anna Burke gives this ancient world life, infusing a modern twist while maintaining a thoroughly historical setting. One of my favourite reads of 2021!

Reviewed by: Alex

Staff Review: This Poison Heart

Title/Author: This Poison Heart - Kalynn Bayron

Genre(s): YA, Dark Fantasy, LGBTQ+

This riveting story is filled to the brim with magic and mystery, small town secrets, a surprise inheritance, a hidden garden, and a girl with a magical connection to plants - the trees bend towards her as if she were the sun. Where do her powers come from? With hints of gothic horror, greek mythology, and a pair of delightful lesbian moms who just want the best for their magical daughter, this book is an intriguing and mesmerizing read for all the plant lovers out there!

Reviewed by: Rosemary

Staff Review: Fight Night

Title/Author: Fight Night - Miriam Toews

Genre(s): Literary Fiction, Family Life, Black Humour

As delightful as always, Toews creates an insanely intimate peek at the relationships of a multi-generational family (a mother, grandmother & daughter). A touchingly funny and brutally honest take on the modern world, you will leave feeling like a part of their family.

Reviewed by: Shelby

Staff Review: Operation Angus

Title/Author: Operation Angus - Terry Fallis

Genre(s): Literary Fiction, Political Satire, Humour

Burner phones, centuries old grievances and domestic & international treachery abound in this tale. It’s up to Terry Fallis to make it funny, and it works because with his eighth novel, our guy is an old pro now. In the midst of an election, Angus McLintock is a political figure that everyone should be able to vote for.. 

Reviewed by: David

Staff Review: Braving the Wilderness

Title/Author: Braving the Wilderness - Brené Brown

Genre(s): Self Help, Interpersonal Relationships

A big name in the therapy world, Brené Brown presents a bold challenge to reclaim our sense of belonging. A must read in self-work.

Reviewed by: Ben

Staff Review: Gods of Jade and Shadow

Title/Author: Gods of Jade & Shadow - Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Genre(s): Fantasy, Magical Realism, Folktales

A girl who has been forgotten and pushed aside rebels against her status to seek adventure in this rich and enrapturing fairytale. Moreno-Garcia’s writing sparkles off the page to reveal a dazzling 1920’s Mexico steeped in magic and mythology, weaving stories of Mayan gods, sorcerers and the underworld into a quest for freedom and fulfillment of dreams. Casiopea will find herself face to face with the gods of Xibalba, with ghosts with glittering promises and with her own willpower. Is her path of love and loss already written in the stars that she gazes up at so fondly?

Reviewed by: Rosemary

Staff Review: The Listeners

Title/Author: The Listeners - Jordan Tannahill

Genre(s): Literary Fiction, Psychological

When a barely perceptible noise disrupts Clare Devon's life to the point of sleeplessness and proceeds to quickly upend her life, with others similarly afflicted form an ad hoc self help group. A perfectly paced airless room takes the stage after that, and it makes for an ending that is both shocking and inevitable. The Listeners is equally funny and disturbing. In a time when our politics has devolved into opposition to "The Other" (whomever they are) this is a prescient, manic and deeply weird book (too weird to win the Giller, but it is deserving of its spot on the longlist).

Reviewed by: David

Tannahill will have you feeling intrigued and disoriented. The flow of his writing and the relatability of his characters will leave you questioning where it all went wrong, as you root for characters that you also distrust. Claire is sensible, logical, a thoughtful teacher, a caring friend and a loving wife and mother. Yet things begin to unravel when the unexplainable sound of the hum overwhelms her psyche. Isolation, fear, and vulnerability take hold, as relationships with family and friends are torn apart and a new family emerges. A family that bonds through shared experience and begins to leech off of each other's humanity, conspiracy and delirium festering. All the while the hum reverberates in the background, and you wonder if you would've done the same thing under such circumstances.

Reviewed by: Rosemary

Staff Review: Malice

Title/Author: Malice - Heather Walter

Genre(s): Fantasy, Retellings, LGBTQ+

As far as subgenres go, retellings of classic stories, especially with an interesting new twist, is always a favourite of mine, and Malice does it better than most! Heather Walter takes a look at a fairytale nearly all of us know from childhood, Sleeping Beauty, and flips the story on it’s head. This time around, we look at the story from the perspective ‘villain’, Alyce, the much abused and maligned Dark Fate of the kingdom of Briar, her only ally is a girl she’s not allowed to love: Aurora, the crown princess cursed to die in a year unless she finds true love’s kiss. 

Reviewed by: Alex

Staff Review: Idaho

Title/Author: Idaho - Emily Ruskovich

Genre(s): Literary Fiction, Americana

In her debut novel, Ruskovich creates an enticing plot around parenting, found family and the American prison system. Though the overarching story is quite dark, Ruskovich’s elegant prose will have you wanting to pack up and move to Idaho.

Reviewed by: Shelby

Staff Review: Butter Honey Pig Bread

Title/Author: Butter Honey Pig Bread - Francesca Ekwuyasi

Genre(s): Literary Fiction, LGBTQ+, Women & Families

An intergenerational saga of love, secrets, healing and legacy. Set in both Nigeria and Canada, this is a must summer read!

Reviewed by: Ben

Staff Review: Even So

Title/Author: Even So - Lauren B. Davis

Genre(s): Literary Fiction

Lauren B. Davis never misses and this is the best novel that I’ve read in 2021. Even So is a book possessed by beautiful sentences, it dives deep into the mess that is the human condition, and for all it’s artistry, the novel moves like a cheetah. This is as good as the modern novel gets.

Reviewed by: David

Staff Review: Everyone in this Room with Someday by Dead

Title/Author: Everyone in this Room with Someday by Dead - Emily Austin

Genre(s): Literary Fiction, Black Humour, LGBTQ+

How does an atheist lesbian find herself working at a Catholic church and becoming involved in a potential murder mystery? Gilda is a young woman who loves deeply but struggles to communicate this to her girlfriend and brother. In this darkly hilarious story you will empathize with the sorrow and frustration of living with anxiety and depression from a young age; you will contemplate the philosophy of life & death; and will be swept up in human miscommunication & fragmented childhood memories, all leading to the painful joy of getting out of bed to face another day.

Reviewed by: Rosemary

Staff Review: The Dead and the Dark

Title/Author: The Dead and the Dark - Courtney Gould

Genre(s): YA, Mystery, LGBTQ+

This novel was the dark mystery I was looking for, with just enough of a supernatural twist to make it even more interesting. It offers a creepy vibe, perfect late night reading, twists you don’t see coming, & it takes a strong look at the anti-LGBTQ+ attitudes that unfortunately still persist even in 2021, especially in small communities. A look at identity, perception and expectation, as well as the possibility of finding love in the most unlikely of places, this is a near perfect read, and a powerful debut YA novel.

Reviewed by: Alex

Staff Review: Pachinko

Title/Author: Pachinko - Min Jin Lee

Genre(s): Literary Fiction, Historical, Family Drama

This powerful and multi-generational story follows one family’s lineage from an impoverished young mother in Japan-occupied Korea through her & her descendants lives as they learn to traverse a life fueled by racism and poverty. I learned so much!

Reviewed by: Shelby