Review of “Only Pretty Damned” by Niall Howell
by Mike Thorn Only Pretty Damned by Niall Howell NeWest Press (2019) ISBN 978-1-988732-53-4 Niall Howell’s Only Pretty Damned is a seriously impressive debut, showcasing a sophisticated sense of craft…
Review of Claire Tacon’s “In Search of the Perfect Singing Flamingo”
by Daryl Sneath In Search of the Perfect Singing Flamingo Claire Tacon Poplar Press (2018) ISBN 978-1928088578 Lead and driving force that she is, Starr Robinson is no ordinary hero. Born…
Review of W. Mark Giles’ “Seep”
by Anne Sorbie Seep by W. Mark Giles Anvil Press (2015) ISBN 978-1-77214-012-5 Mark Giles’ first novel opens and closes with explications of “once upon a time.” The approach is playful, but, rather…
Review of “Writing Menopause” edited by Jane Cawthorne and ED Morin
by Shelley McAneeley Writing Menopause An Anthology of Fiction, Poetry and Creative Nonfiction edited by Jane Cawthorne and ED Morin Inanna Publications and Education Inc. (2017) ISBN 978-1-77133-353-5 What to say…
Review of Darusha Wehm’s “The Home for Wayward Parrots”
by Anne Logan The Home for Wayward Parrots Darusha Wehm NeWest Press (2018) ISBN 978-1-988732-27-5 What makes a coming-of-age story? Does it simply need to cover the years from birth…
Review of Bill Gallaher’s “High Rider”
by Shelley McAneeley High Rider Bill Gallaher TouchWood Editions (2015) ISBN 978-1-77151-114-8 This is a down home story from Alberta about one of the first black settlers in the area.…
Book review of “The New World” by Andrew Motion
Nikki Celis A review of The New World By Andrew Motion The Crown Publishing Group ISBN 978-0-8041-3845-1 “Pride, I suppose. Stubbornness. Greed. Some defect in myself, which proves I am…
Book Review of “The Vacationers” by Emma Straub
Lisa Deane a review of: The Vacationers By Emma Straub Riverhead Books ISBN 978-159463157 Gistnopsis: Middle-aged married couple Franny and Jim, 28-year-old Bobby, and 18-year-old Sylvia, along with Franny’s best…
Book Review of Aaron Cully Drake’s “Do You Think This Is Strange?”
Shelley McAneeley a review of: Do You Think This is Strange? Aaron Cully Drake Brindle and Glass Publishing ISBN 978-1-927366-387 Having just completed my usual morning talk with my…
“a trip into the abyss” by Jordan Simpson: a Design Review of “House of Leaves” by Mark Z Danielewski
Jordan Simpson a review of: House of Leaves by Mark Z Danielewski Pantheon Books ISBN: 0-375-70376-4 Reading Mark Z. Danielewski’s “novel” House of Leaves (Feb 29, 2000) is a lot like…