The previous volumes in the Ava Lee series sketched her character as slightly as the silhouette in the striking cover designs* but The Red Pole of Macau takes Ava into new emotional territory; it is a worthy addition to the series and has reignited my interest in this character's adventures.
It recalls Sharon Butala's love of the prairie, reverence for the land. It brings to mind Lee Maracle's focus on relationships between women, love and friendship and sustenance. And it reminds me of Louise Erdrich's unflinching consideration of violence against women and the world. But Alanda Greene's Napi's
The cover of The Secret of the Village Fool displays Renné Benoit's gentle style of illustration and invites the reader into an inspiring and powerful tale. But it also shows the anxiety and uneasiness of Milek and Munio, two young boys in their village in Poland during WWII. Their neighbour, Anton,
“Number One, satire is not on. Critics love it, real people turn it off." That from the satirical novel Easy to Like*, which takes on Canadian media just as Linda Svendsen takes on Canadian politics in Sussex Drive. Of course, Edward Riche was satirizing the idea of satire
Sheldon Funk is having a rough go of things. ECW Press, 2012 His most meaningful relationship right now is with his cat, and he is under no illusions about its sustainability. "I don't think cats like anyone. They're only biding time until they evolve thumbs. Then we're probably
