It’s never a good omen when a book review starts with a caveat but alas, I am doing just that. In fact, having never been one to dwell in the lower echelons of omendom, I’m making two. The first is relatively benign, though potentially embarrassing in Canadian literature and book club circles. I had no […]
The Martian by Ridley Scott – Review
I finally went to see The Martian movie last night. This is something I’ve been eagerly awaiting since discovering a movie was in the works after reading Andy Weir’s wonderful book. My expectations were muted because, let’s face it, rarely do movie adaptions do their source material justice, never mind surpass them. I can think […]
Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson – Review
Based on my entirely anecdotal, but undoubtedly accurate research, motivational quotes have got to be the least successful method for enacting measurable change in people’s behaviours. Oh they make for terrific Facebook and Pinterest fodder but a quick look around on any given day clearly indicates they are having zero impact on the people who […]
A Rare and Wonderful Children’s Book Called Cats
Like seemingly everyone else, I too went through an Antiques Roadshow addiction a few years ago. I’d watch breathlessly as everyday people would shuffle forth with their family heirlooms and flea market discoveries each hoping they were in possession of a rare, miracle find worth tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. Most would […]
My Traitorous Mind – A Short Short Story, Thankfully
Two months ago I provided the world a great pleasure by publishing what is arguably the worst horror story ever written. It is the worst because it is not very good, of course, but also because it’s not bad enough to be loved for its badness. It will never become a cult classic or shared […]
Back For More – The Worst Horror Short Story Ever Written
“You should be a writer.” I have heard or read that phrase many times over the past two decades of letter writing. And no, not just from my mother. Actually I don’t think my mother has ever said that; what the hell, mom? It’s certainly flattering to hear from friends and family and it gives […]
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman – Review
I must admit that I had no shortage of reservations before I began reading The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. My literary man crush with Neil Gaiman has been a touch tricky over the years, more often college love affair than adult romance. As with all tumultuous relationships I was […]
Redshirts by John Scalzi – Review
There’s a great country song written by Steve Goodman and made famous by David Allen Coe called ‘You Never Even Called Me By My Name”. The Coe version is best known for the satirical recitation and final verse appended to what up until that point had been a rather typical country song. Coe begins his […]
Prescription for Disaster: The funny side of falling apart – Review
My wife and I were huge fans of the TV show House. We watched every week for all eight seasons and if we did miss an episode we dutifully downloaded it from a torrent site (did I just incriminate myself?) and watched it on the computer as soon as possible. I was already dealing with […]
Fifty Shades of Holy Crap Did I Really Read That Garbage?
Grey, as it so happens, is created by combining black and white. This is a convenient bit of irony since I can say in black and white terms that Fifty Shades of Grey is the worst written, most idiotic book I’ve ever attempted to read. Calling this literature would be akin to calling Kraft Dinner […]