Reviewed by L.D.Y. Hardcover, 364 pages, 2008 Rating: 10/10 Reason for Reading: I love reading books set in India and Africa and this met the latter requirement. Synopsis: In this collection of five short stories (though I’d make the argument that two of them approach novella length), each story focuses on children in a different […]

Reviewed by L.D.Y. Trade, 230 pages, 2005 Rating: 10/10 Reason for Reading: I haven’t been reading enough Canadian authors lately – and I miss it! Synopsis: Ladykiller is a collection of seven short stories, ranging in content from a backwards glance at events leading up to a car crash; to twin sisters who fight to […]

Reviewed by L.D.Y. Trade, 448 pages, 2005 Rating: 10/10 Reason for Reading: I was browsing around and noticed that Gilchrist and a friend of mine share a hometown in Arkansas. Being the reasonable sort, I’m happy to look at silly coincidences as a good reason to read a book. Synopsis: Nora Jane is a grouping […]

Reviewed by L.D.Y. Hardcover (available in trade), 147 pages, 2004 Rating: 7/10 Reason for Reading: It was featured in Time Magazine, and since the author is from Toronto, I thought it might be worth checking out. Synopsis: A collection of seven short stories that trace the formative years of Mark Berman (and his family), who […]

Reviewed by L.D.Y. Trade, 357 pages, 1999 Rating: 7/10 Reason for Reading: I found this one in the bargain section for five bucks and grabbed it since I really liked God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian. Synopsis: Bagombo Snuff Box is a collection of twenty-three short stories dug up from Vonnegut’s career as a magazine writer […]

Reviewed by L.D.Y. Hardcover (available in trade), 225 pages, 2003 Rating: 9/10 Reason for Reading: Saw it when I was glancing through The Toronto Star looking for new releases. Synopsis: A collection of five short stories (“Lucky Girls,” “The Orphan,” “Outside the Eastern Gate,” “The Tutor,” and “Letter from the Last Bastion”), mainly dealing with […]

Reviewed by L.D.Y. Trade, 168 pages, 1998 Rating: 7/10 Reason for Reading: I saw it at the library and decided to read it to find out why the library would have two copies of a seemingly-obscure book. Synopsis: A collection of thirteen stories, Gaston largely deals with people in small town Canada struggling with things […]