Diana Stevan

Beautifully written. I was carried away by the times and the characters, who made me believe all of what happens in this story is possible. The Knowledge Seeker is set in the future, six hundred years after civilization has fallen. All that was there was lost and only one leader seems to have access to this wealth of information. He entrusts an ancient memory device, containing that information to Eodain, a 16 year old boy, also known as Termite. His task is to take it to a specific location where it can be disseminated to the world. But along the way, all is not what it appears to be. There are others who have a different motive in mind. To say that Termite's life is in danger is an understatement.

This is a thrilling YA novel that will be cherished I'm sure for years.

This novel was originally a screenplay called Shrinkproof. It got the attention of Jody Foster's agent in Hollywood but the actress eventually passed on it. In my book, there's a young mother who becomes mute after giving birth to her baby and ends up on the psychiatric ward. At the time, Jody was becoming a new mother herself. I can only guess at the reasons she passed on the script. It was also sent to Meg Ryan at the time and it was also a no go.

Making a film is a difficult business. I was an actress for a while and I know that any producer who embarks on a film has to love it so much that they're willing to invest big bucks and stay with the project for up to three years with pre-production and post-production work. When my agent lost interest, I decided to convert the story into a novel because it was a story I couldn't let go of.

The Rubber Fence was inspired by my first job as a clinical social worker on a psychiatric ward in Winnipeg, Manitoba. I'd been trained as a family therapist by my professor who'd worked for ten years as a family therapist in the Wisconisn Mental Health Centre. So when I arrived on the ward in the early 1970s and discovered that shock treatment still existed and was often the treatment of choice for serious depression, I was stunned. I was of the opinion that people needed a chance to tell their stories, that there were more than biological reasons for their depression. Anyway, some of those emotions and experiences made their way into my novel.

What a delightful story! It's 1940, wartime, and Harriet Hall and her sick mother have been sent to Canada to live with relatives. But a challenging time in the household adds to Harriet's woes. Lonely, she's driven to hide out in the woods, where she meets a Sasquatch, an unlikely friend.

Sonia Garrett has written a story that not only engages the reader but surprises them with twists and turns. In Harriet's quest to save her mother, she discovers the unsavory experiments her mother's doctor is involved in. Will she be able to muster the courage to stop him? Can she get the authorities to believe her? And is the Sasquatch really a friend or another foe?

The author's sensitivity to childhood challenges and to the environment shines in this story.

This was a labour of love. I cried and laughed at the computer as I recalled my mother's anecdotes about my grandmother. Though I'd shared a bedroom with my baba, Lukia Mazurets (the protagonist in my biographical fiction) from the time I was a baby until I was fifteen, I never knew the hardships she'd faced.

I didn't know her as that much younger woman who'd survived not only wartime but life in a refugee camp with six children while her husband was fighting for the Tsar. She never talked about it. When I grew older, I realized she was like the men who came back from war and never mentioned what they'd experienced. To bring up what they'd gone through would mean reliving that heartache.

Her road was hard but I also discovered her joy and humour in the midst of the turmoil. And today, on Canadian Thanksgiving, I feel so thankful that I was able to bring her story to life.

I wasn't sure at first but am so glad I stayed with the story. It was fabulous. It begins around the same time in Russian history as my novel, Sunflowers Under Fire, but it's a very different story. Amor Towles focuses on an aristocrat, who's sentenced by the Bolsheviks to spend the rest of his life in the Metropol Hotel in Moscow. I loved how deftly the novelist weaves in all the characters that Count Rostov meets during his stay, as well as the food and drink of the elite. It gave me an appreciation of what Russian culture has contributed to the world, but also the challenges its citizenry have had under Communist rule. Highly recommended.

I was so impressed with this story. The author, Lisa Genova, who has a PhD in neuroscience from Harvard, used her knowledge to gain access to those who treat Alzheimer's disease. She wrote this novel with such clarity and compassion, using the voice of Alice Howland, a middle-aged professor suffering with the disease. The author also showed us the devastating effects of this illness on Alice's family. I highly recommend this remarkable book.

An outstanding book! I can see why it won the Pulitzer Prize. Largely written in a poetic style, Toni Morrison captures the tragedy that was a part of every black person's life. It was a harrowing read at times but informative. I hope to read more of the author's works.

Loved this book, especially as we were preparing to travel to Mississippi. Great overview of a state and its people.

This is the first book I've read of Kay Kendall's and what a charming ride it was. Wallie MacGregor, a 23 year old wannabe female sleuth, has her hands full when her Uncle Rory, the black sheep of the family, comes to visit. The tension between him and Wallie's father leads her to suspect there are family secrets worth investigating. Especially when a tragedy happens unexpectedly. Was it an accident or was it murder? And who is that woman in the photo Rory carries? And why was her uncle so afraid?

This cozy mystery is set in the 1920s, a time of prohibition and brutal gangs like Al Capone's. Unlike many other authors who choose to write about that time and subject, Kay Kendall doesn't exploit sex or violence in the telling of her tale.

I was kept guessing until the end, which is always a sign of a good mystery, well-written.

I've been a fan of Lorraine Devon Wilke's ever since I read After The Sucker Punch. This novel impressed me even more. In The Alchemy of Noise, the author tackles the issue of race in America. Two people–one black, the other white–fall in love, a love that is beautifully and sensitively portrayed. It's also honestly depicted. How work, family and society's views affect their interracial relationship is a difficult subject and yet Wilke does a masterful job in showing us what's at stake.

How various people react to Sidonie and Chris's relationship is what powers this story. To write about a subject matter that can be so divisive takes courage and exceptional skill. The author made me feel a little of what it's like to be black in America and that was horrifying. A highly recommended read, both for the love story and for understanding the impact of racism on innocent lives.

A heartfelt read. The story is based on the author's life, how he was apprehended when he was a child, taken away from his parents, and lived among non-natives until he found his way back to his people, the Ojibway. It's both a sad and heartening read. Highly recommended.

It's not a book I would typically pick up but a friend of mine said it had some elements like my debut novel, A Cry From The Deep. And yes, there are some but it is quite a different story. It was a light read but a compelling one.

Isabella's grief was palpable and her relationship with Matthew, the lighthouse keeper, a believable one. The conflict between the two sisters in the contemporary story was nicely done. The main characters are engaging, and I like how the author wove in the contemporary story with the one from the past.

Fascinating account of Josephine's life with Napoleon. I never thought of him as a likeable character and yet, in this story, I discovered his humanity, all through Josephine's voice. As a mother, wife, lover, and astute politician herself, Josephine is a great character. Sandra Gulland does a magnificent job. It's obvious she did a lot of research to bring that time to life for her readers.

Beautifully written, Henderson's Spear is bound to appeal to those who like adventure and exotic places in their stories. But I found myself drifting as the details, specific names and places, were too much for me to keep track of.

The two intersecting stories, the one of Henderson and the one of Liv, the documentary filmmaker, kept me guessing about their connection, which was great. What was most compelling was Liv's account of her life and the challenges she was facing, regarding the daughter she never knew, the father whose disappearance was unexplained and the reason she was in a Tahiti prison.

Because this is not a genre I particularly like, I was reluctant to give a starred review.

My son-in-law got this book for me as I'm writing one myself about a woman in Ukraine. This story is set in Chernobyl, after the nuclear accident that affected so many. Baba Dunja is a very likeable and wise character, also one with a good sense of humour. This latter character trait was enough to keep me interested. Her interactions with neighbours and a stranger give the story a home-spun feel. It's a book I plan to read again.

A very sweet book about a young girl, who is passionate about hockey. Unfortunately, her father thinks it's only for boys. A chance encounter with Isobel Stanley (whose family the Stanley Cup is named after) inspires the book's protagonist and she decides to pursue her goal of playing no matter what others think. This is an inspiring tale for young readers who don't always get the support they need to follow their dreams.

Jane Urquhart's prose is like no other. I was astounded by her poetic phrasings. Her story is imbued with spiritual ideas, bordering on the paranormal. I found myself savouring the way she described not only the landscape of Ireland and the Canadian Shield but also the way she showed us what her characters were thinking and feeling. My only problem, and it's a minor one, is that I got lost about who was who in the family tree when she went back and forth in time, covering a few generations of character. Some of that is my fault, as I'm a quick reader, and though I struggle over every word I write, I don't always read every word on a page.

Enjoyed the read immensely. A light look at the inner workings of Canadian politics. An unlikely candidate becomes the best candidate in parliament, despite his earlier wishes. Terry Fallis won the Stephen Leacock Humour award for this novel. Well-deserved. I especially liked the section about the invention that got them to the House after a snowstorm that made the roads impassable.

The history of how one young whale, Moby Doll, affected those involved with its capture off Saturna Island in British Columbia in 1964 is a fascinating read. The way Orcas were perceived prior to this event is in marked contrast to today. I loved all the characters the author introduces us to in his tale of this time and the years that followed. Amazing the impact this mammal had on the course of history.

Excellent read. The time and place have obviously been well researched. Love the courage two sisters display under Nazi occupation in France during WWII. There's also some romance, which I find always appealing, and yet it's unconventional and therefore surprising in some of its twists and turns. My only problem was with the parts where the Germans show no mercy. This is well-known, but I still had trouble reading those sections.

My enjoyment of this collection of short stories was uneven. My favourite story was The Dead, which was made into a movie starring Angelica Huston and directed by her father John Huston years back. The reader is introduced to quite a few characters at a party, all vividly described. The author certainly shows his masterful abilities as he is able to keep the reader engaged despite giving us details that are often missing in more contemporary novels. I particularly loved the last pages as they revealed the devastating impact of one dead soul on a marriage.

A very interesting profile of a young girl, raised by a father, who's an addict and extremely immature, in a sketchy area of Montreal. Creative and bright, she learns to rely on her own wits but unfortunately, gets involved with a pimp, who takes advantage of her. The writing is compelling as the reader is introduced to a world that is full of pitfalls for someone so young and without guidance. Her saving grace is her own intelligence and courage to keep going no matter what and who she encounters.

I met Heather O'Neill at the Words on the Water festival in Campbell River this year and her talk inspired me to buy her book. I wasn't disappointed.

A very enjoyable read. What struck me was the fact that this was a story about three middle-aged women with secrets. They were all accomplished in some way: a therapist, a romance writer and an interior designer. Each had their share of marital woes and family complications. I was very impressed with the author's ability to weave in each woman's challenge and at the same time show how their friendship with one another sustained them. I'm so glad I've discovered this wonderful author. It's not often I come across a novel with female protagonists who are not young.

I received an advance copy of Scare Away The Dark in exchange for an honest review. I had read the author's first book, Deadly Switch, and because it was such a great read, I looked forward to another suspense/thriller featuring investigative reporter, Jordan Stone. This time, one that pits her against a stalker, whose identity and motivation is as mysterious as the whereabouts of her father. Karen Dodd took me on a daring and terrifying ride, one that surprised me as I followed Jordan in her dangerous quest to find her father, who disappeared somewhere in Italy.

Though the novel begins in a dark place and barely lets up, there are moments of tenderness, humour and sexual tension, as Jordan encounters one intriguing character after another, like the gruff but likeable RCMP inspector Quinn and the appealing and attractive Interpol agent Simon. It's a thrilling journey that takes the reader from the quiet village of Dundarave in West Vancouver, British Columbia to Tropea, Italy, where violence and love share the stage.

There is no question that John Grisham is an exceptional author. I keep returning to his books.

This one grabbed me right from the beginning as I constantly rail at the unfairness of corporations that take advantage of the little man.

In this story, we have a company that has wilfully released toxins into the water and soil in a small American town and covered it up. As a result, an unusually high number of the inhabitants, who had no warning of the dangers of their water, have become ill or have died of cancer.

A husband and wife lawyer team, on the verge of bankruptcy, takes up the cause of one woman who has lost both her husband and son to cancer. They are bent on proving the link between these deaths and the poisonous chemicals that were released in this town. They have a strong case but the corporation has means and ways of fighting back.

Though I enjoyed the read, I found myself drifting at times because of the many characters that came into play. And because of that, I found I was not as invested in the outcome or in the protagonists as I might've been.