Val’s Book Reviews The Call of the Red-Winged Blackbird: Essays on the Common and Extraordinary by Tim Bowling Hamilton, ON: Wolsak & Wynn, 2022 $22.00 / 9781989496428 It is always a delightful surprise to discover a book you would not normally read, only to find it extremely enjoyable. Such was the case for me with […]
Fraser River Waterways Read More »
Originally published in this Blog on November 5, 2021 Perhaps because there has been so much horror in the world of late, it seems even more important every November 11th to remember why we honour all those who serve their countries. On November 11, 1919, when the first Remembrance Day was held throughout Commonwealth countries
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Val’s Book Reviews The Darkness in the Light by Daniel Kalla Toronto: Simon & Schuster Canada, 2022 $24.99 / 9781982191399 If you enjoy gripping, psychological thrillers, Daniel Kalla’s book The Darkness in The Light will hold your attention to the very end. The story takes place in Anchorage, Alaska, and in the remote world of
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(Originally posted in this Blog on September 21, 2020) If, like me, you’re feeling a wee bit “witchy” as Halloween comes around again, here’s a piece of witchcraft history to ponder on. For instance, did you know that it was on September 22nd in 1692, 328 years ago, that the last eight witches in Salem were
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Val’s Book Reviews They Don’t Pay Me To Say No: my life in film and television props by Dean Goodine Victoria: FriesenPress Publishing, 2022 $24.99 / 9781039144316 If you were asked what a “property master” does for a living, you would most likely assume the job was connected to real estate in some way. Such
In Canada, traditional observance of Thanksgiving Day has only been in existence since 1879. In America the tradition of giving thanks dates back to 1621 when the Pilgrim’s Fall Harvest that year was so plentiful, but not until 1817 did the state of New York officially adopt Thanksgiving Day as an annual custom, and in
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The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah Back to Val’s Book Club Main Page All of Hannah’s books make for exceptional reading but this one stands out for me. Set in the depression years in 1930’s Texas, this is the story of a strong woman on an incredible journey of courage who escapes the devastating Dust
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The Silent Wife by Kerry Fisher Back to Val’s Book Club Main Page The combination of an Italian family, two very different brothers, a doting husband, two wives and an over-bearing mother-in-law provides a mixture of family secrets, intrigue and lies. Fisher weaves these ingredients into a fascinating tale.
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The Pact by Jodi Picoult Back to Val’s Book Club Main Page This is a heart-wrenching story of two families whose friendship is torn apart because of the relationship of their children and the death of one of them. Picoult knows well how to pull at your heart strings and leave you guessing until the
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Val’s Book Reviews Loss, wisdom, bereavement Minerva’s Owl: The Bereavement Phase of My Marriage by Carol Matthews Calgary: Freehand Books, 2021 (first published by Oolichan Books, 2017) $17.95 / 9780889823259 Carol Matthews’ memoir Minerva’s Owl is not a happy book, but it is one full of hope and tenderness told with the author’s beautiful prose
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