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  • Book Reviews,  Memoir

    Book Review | No Bootstraps When You’re Barefoot

    No Bootstraps When You're Barefoot

    "No Bootstraps When You're Barefoot" is a memoir by Wes Hall detailing his journey from growing up in poverty in Jamaica to becoming a successful entrepreneur and business leader in Canada. Hall's resilience against racism, lack of education, and the…

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  • Book Reviews,  NonFiction

    Book Review | High Price by Dr. Carl Hart

    High Price by Dr. Carl Hart

    High Price by Dr. Carl Hart is a critical examination of the war on drugs as told through a neuropsychopharmacologist's journey from a teenager who "maintained a complicated relationship with the street" to a tenured professor at Columbia University.

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  • Book Recommendations,  NonFiction

    3 Captivating Nonfiction Recommendations to Add to Your TBR

    This Is Assisted Dying by Stephanie Green MD

    For longer than I’d like to admit, my idea of nonfiction was limited to newspapers and academic texts (textbooks and journal articles). After university, once I started reading for fun, I realized there was more to nonfiction than I previously…

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Christina

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I don't think I've finished a book since June. I'v I don't think I've finished a book since June. I've started a few, but Sascha insists I spend my time taking her outside so we can chase squirrels. What Sascha wants, Sascha gets. Book friends who've had puppies...did your reading slowdown when you brought them home? When did it pick back up? #beaglepuppy #lemonbeagle #lemonbeaglepuppy
A New Season by Terry Fallis I read about A New S A New Season by Terry Fallis I read about A New Season on @kaleys23 blog Books Etc. and it sounded like a good palate cleanser after a heavier read. Kaley did say the book was "unapologetically Canadian" but it wasn't until I started reading it that I realized some of the places mentioned in the book were down the street from me (one of them being the bar in the background of this picture). It's always fun to read about books set in your neighbourhood or city. What I didn't expect was to recognize land marks but not feel unfamiliar with the version of the city he painted for the reader. When I read River Mumma and Hana Khan Carries On, the Toronto I was reading about was the same Toronto I was living in. That said, I enjoyed the audiobook. It's narrated by the author which is great because it features recordings of the songs written by the main character (which are actually written by the author). I liked being able to hear the melody as opposed to just reading the lyrics.
Finlay Donovan Rolls The Dice by Elle Cosimano Th Finlay Donovan Rolls The Dice by Elle Cosimano The fourth book in the Finlay Donovan series once again finds Finlay and her nanny Vero in the center of .... well everything. I was so close to giving up on this book and the series. While I love a comedy of errors, I found the wrong place/wrong time and near misses tropes were wearing a little thin. This was also the first book in the series I read vs. listened to and at times I found myself skim reading to push things along. However, once it was clear we were wrapping up this story line I became more invested. After all of the shenanigans, the web of deceit the wrap up felt too neat and simple. And because I don't know how to leave well enough alone, I will be reading book 5 when it drops next next March🙃 What is it they say about doing the same thing over again and expecting different results? Thank you St. Martin's Press for a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Clara At The Door With A Revolver by Carolyn Whitz Clara At The Door With A Revolver by Carolyn Whitzman Shortlisted for the 2023 Toronto Book Awards, Clara at the Door with a Revolver recounts the 1894 murder of Frank Westwood and the subsequent trial of Clara Ford. Accused of murdering her former neighbour, Clara initially confesses to the crime upon her arrest. However, during the trial, the conditions surrounding her arrest come to light and Ford instead claims she was coerced into a false confession. The book's focus is not Clara's guilt or innocence - but rather the sociopolitical landscape of Toronto in the 1890s and its influence on policing, media and the definition of justice. Although it has been over 125 years since the events of the book, it is so interesting to see how (little) Toronto has changed. Although the amalgamated Toronto of today did not yet exist, the city was governed by class and racial prejudices the effects of which we can still see and feel today. Clara At The Door With A Revolver is a thought provoking and engaging read. Perfect for lovers of true crime and history alike.
📚 Both of these books are in genres I don't usu 📚 Both of these books are in genres I don't usually reach for but I truly enjoyed them. I'm going to try to read more outside of my comfort zone this year. 📚Scars & Stars by Jesse Thistle If you've read his first book, From The Ashes, you must read Scars & Stars. I opted to read the book while I listened to the audiobook and it was the perfect combination for this poetry collection. Jesse's narration, the illustrations and the layout of the words on the page created a beautiful reading experience. 📚 Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson I tried to read Love In the Time of Cholera last year and only made it about halfway. The play on the title made me pick this up when I saw it at the library. PhD candidate Phoebe Walsh is writing her dissertation on true crime while cleaning out her childhood home after the passing of her father. Phoebe's obsession with true crime has her convinced there's more to her new neighbour Sam, than meets the eye. I don't usually reach for romance novels so I was a little surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Especially because it's more character than plot driven. As I don't read or listen to podcasts about true crime, I'm not sure if the references for Phoebe's dissertation were real or not. But those parts of the book made me wonder if Alicia Thompson had written a dissertation or thesis on the subject and wanted to make sure more people read it.
Glory Be x Danielle Arceneaux Glory Broussard wi Glory Be x Danielle Arceneaux Glory Broussard will scold you for not attending church on Sunday while taking your bet in her small bookie operation. A senior church lady as an amateur sleuth. At first, I didn't see how it could work. But the further we got into the story the more I realized how perfect this pairing is. No one knows everything about everybody like they do. They can ask questions and get answers because they tend to be overlooked and underestimated. This is a fun debut by Danielle Arceneaux perfect for lovers of cozy murder mysteries. I am ready for the next one in the series!
As with most books about books and libraries, the As with most books about books and libraries, the focus is on how they can unite and connect members of the community. In both books, we have characters of different ages, stages and walks of life. Yet they all manage to form connections and friendships they didn't realize were missing and sorely needed. While I enjoyed the story, I didn't love the choice of narration for some of the characters in The Lonely Hearts Book Club. So I'd recommend the physical instead of the audio for that one. I switched back and forth between the physical and audio of The Reading List and equally enjoyed both. If you like books with alternating POVs, an ensemble cast with bookish references and themes of community and connection you'll love both of these. #TheReadingList #SaraNishaAdams #TheLonelyHeartsBookClub #LucyGilmore #BooksAboutBooks #BooksAboutLibraries #Audiobooks
When I placed this book on hold at the library, I When I placed this book on hold at the library, I didn’t know much about Wes Hall. What I knew was that he was the Black Dragon on CBC’s Dragon’s Den (The Canadian version of Shark Tank). I’d watched a clip of him extending an offer to Gilles Tchianga the founder of Taltis Foods. That 7 minute clip made me want to learn more about the “King of Bay Street”. No Bootstraps When You're Barefoot by Wes Hall details his early life in Jamaica, immigration to Canada and his struggles to survive and thrive in his new surroundings. Hall discusses the different forms of racism he encountered during his career and initiatives he’s founded since to eliminate racism in the workplace. Throughout the book Hall stresses the importance of opportunity. He highlights the opportunities he was given that allowed him to build the career he has today. Something I found interesting was that he called out that in today’s landscape, someone wouldn’t be able to do what he did back then. Not because they aren’t hardworking or capable, but because of the lack of opportunities. I think this is something that I picked up on in the clip from Dragon’s Den. Through non-profits and initiatives that Hall’s founded he’s trying to do what he can to create more opportunities for us. The narration was really well done, it really helped to bring the story to life. If you like memoirs give this a listen you’ll be glad you did.
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