A Disquieting Future: Review of a Thoughtful Short Story Collection
I was fortunate to read “Breathing is How Some People Stay Alive”, a collection of deeply visceral short stories by Canadian writer, Alison Gadsby. Futuristic and catastrophic, her writing is inexplicable and draws the reader through the unfamiliar to bear witness to the subtle acts of violence and their memory enacted upon women’s bodies, regardless…
All the White Friends I Couldn’t Keep: A Review and Reflections
I recently encountered “All the White Friends I Could Not Keep” by Andre Henry (I listened to the audiobook version he narrated). It is an uncomfortable, painful and necessary read as Henry explores race, activism, and the philosophy and action of nonviolent political protest and the growth he experienced during this journey. But it is…
When Beautiful Writing Makes the Horror Deeply Disturbing: Review of Annie Neugebauer’s “You Have to Let Them Bleed”
Annie Neugebauer’s collection “You Have to Let Them Bleed” showcases masterful horror short stories blending lyrical prose with visceral themes. Each tale intricately depicts ordinary life spiraling into dread, highlighting elements of body horror, psychological tension, and even light cannibalism. Recommended for mature horror enthusiasts, it promises an unsettling yet beautiful reading experience.
Listening Notes: Boudica, Mother, Rage and Rebellion
The Story of Boudica What we know of Boudica spans approximately two years of her life in 60 or 61 CE (Common Era). She was married to Prasutagus, leader of the Iceni people, they had two daughters and he’d recently died. He’d left half of his lands to his daughters and the rest under tribute…
Women, Property, and Power: How They Were Her Property Challenges Passive White Innocence in American Slavery
Book review of They Were Her Property by Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers—an unflinching look at white women slave owners and the economics of slavery.
Glowing By the Light of “Frail Little Embers”: A Literary Review of new Short Story Collection
“Frail Little Embers” by Fjia Callaghan is a poignant collection of short stories blending magical realism, folklore, and lyrical beauty. Each story captures moments of hope and tension, showcasing Callaghan’s unique storytelling. With twenty-one tales, the collection offers a mix of whimsy and depth, inviting readers into a vivid literary experience.
Hitlers Furies: Women Unleashed in the Reich
A review of Hitler’s Furies: German Women in the Nazi Killing Fields As long as political ideologies seek to control the body and social lives of women, the personal will be political. I sometimes think it’s a trite and outdated phrase and then Roe v. Wade is turned over in the US and Nova Scotia…
Gauzy dust-filled horror: Review of The Atropine Tree
Aldane Manor is an ancient home of low-beamed ceilings, crumbling walls, poison gardens, and deadly secrets. The Atropine Tree by Bram Stoker award-winning writer Sarah Read is a delightful romp into the absurdity of gothic horror. A medium sister, one who talks to ghosts – not size medium, poison herb gardens, centuries of ghosts and…
Review of a Poet’s Memoir: Looking at Women, Looking at War by Victoria Amelina
Victoria Amelina’s memoir, “Looking at Women, Looking at War,” explores her experiences as a war crimes researcher amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It reflects on her identity, resilience, and the stories of extraordinary women in resistance. Amelina poignantly conveys the absurdity and horror of war before her untimely death in July 2023.
Tensions grow “Into the Fall”: A Review of New Psychological Thriller
My interest was initially piqued by Tamara L. Miller’s “Into the Fall” because she’s Canadian, and there’s something to be said for supporting local talent but this did not disappoint and is in no way Can-Con filler! Miller’s debut novel is a tightly woven tale that she expertly and finely unravels until the very end.…
Joy Reads Books 