Val’s Book Reviews Apocalypse Child: Surviving Doomsday and the Search for Identity at the End of the World by Carly Butler Qualicum Beach: Caitlin Press, 2024 Apocalypse Child is an unimaginable story that would be difficult to believe unless you knew that author Carly Butler had actually lived it and is now generously sharing her story with readers. Butler begins […]
A Misnamed Islet off Cadboro Bay? There is a small islet off the north-east shore of Cadboro Bay in my hometown, Victoria, British Columbia, called Ellen Staines Isle. The story behind it is an interesting piece of historical trivia. For some unknown reason the small island was mis-named, because Ellen Staines Isle was named to
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The Birth of a Book Series! When I was about nine years old and still lived in England, an uncle gave me a very special book which I have treasured for years. It was called The Abridged Bible Catechism and was given to small children in Sunday school back in the 1840s. But it was
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Val’s Book Reviews High Society by Daniel Kalla Toronto: Simon & Schuster, 2024 $24.99 / 9781668053904 Once again, Vancouver author Daniel Kalla (Fit to Die) uses his expertise in the world of medicine to write an exhilarating psychological thriller. In High Society he looks into the volatile and controversial world of prescribed psychedelic drugs. His
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Traditions of Victoria Day Every year the traditional “May 24th” holiday, the anniversary of Queen Victoria’s birthday, occurs on a different date. This year it is early – on Monday, 20th May. The holiday weekend consists of celebrations ranging from a parade, boating, festivals and even, on one memorable occasion in 1896, a tragedy. According
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“LUND – THE BEGINNING OR THE END OF THE ROAD?” As an inquisitive writer, I love discovering lesser-known places in British Columbia. I remember about fifteen years ago doing exactly that on a trip from Horseshoe Bay north to Powell River on the section of Highway 101 that is affectionately known as “the Sunshine Coast”.
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A Charming Appendage As the author of many historical books, both non-fiction and fiction set in British Columbia, plus hundreds of articles all of which have resulted in a great deal of research, it was obvious to me that it was the men folk who invariably made a name for themselves. Their wives, often only
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Val’s Book Reviews Wildlife Congregations: A Priest’s Year of Gaggles, Colonies and Murders by the Salish Sea by Laurel Dykstra Surrey: Hancock House Publishers, 2024$24.95 / 9780888397539 [Editor’s Note: Laurel Dykstra is non-binary and uses they/them/their pronouns. This is accounted for in the following review.] Over one particular year, author Laurel Dykstra, a naturalist priest,
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Rudyard Kipling’s World Travels Most of us are familiar with the many works of Rudyard Kipling such as The Jungle Book, Captain Courageous and Soldier Tales, but here are a few more things you might not know about him, including his world travels. Kipling was born in Bombay in 1865 where his father was a
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Val’s Book Reviews The Time of My Life: Dirty Dancing by Andrea Warner Toronto: ECW Press, April 2024 $19.95 / 9781770417410 This small book by author Andrea Warner covers many important topics that are still relevant in today’s world. The author has told her own story, comparing it alongside the story in the movie Dirty
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