Columnists

Why Canada Reads Needs Unhappy Narratives

Each year on Canada Reads, five books of fiction and nonfiction are chosen by Canadian celebrities who advocate for their book of choice as one that “all of Canada should read.” One book is voted ...

Book Therapy: Sunny Days Inside

 “Is it safe?” “It’s safe now but when won’t it be safe?” “It’s not actually bad here.” “It’s not bad there either.” “What about the money.” “But what about the kids? They’ll ...

Making a skating rink, and other tricks for stepping away from a work-in-progress

On a particularly cold Friday morning, I piled my kids in a car with snow pants and skates and a pile of books and we headed to a cottage rental. We all were desperate for a change of scenery, and I was ...

Book Therapy: The Music Game

“I was a human being, and human beings needed to say goodbye, to get together, to cry in the same room.”—Stéfanie Clermont, The Music GameThis deep into the seemingly never ending story that is ...

Why 2022 Is a Year of Remembering

In the last week of December 2021, I tried to remember what I had done during the year. I couldn’t remember. I had life-changing experiences – started a PhD, completed my first term successfully, ...

A Writer’s Guide to Reading in 2022

I read a lot of books in 2021. More than I ever have, except for maybe the summers when I was eight and would clear out the chapter book section at Humber Bay library. I have always been an escapist, ...

Book Therapy: Favourites from my favourites

Every year, in the back of my agenda, I keep a simple running list of the books I’ve read. More than anything, it’s a handy way to remember what exactly I consumed and when, but it also offers a useful ...

The Renaissance of Fanfiction

For those who have grown invested in any fanbase whether it be movies, musicians, anime, cartoons and, of course, books, it’s more than likely you’ve come across fanfiction at some point in your life. ...

Book Therapy: Good Burdens

“You may feel like you’re behind the rest of the world because you haven’t accomplished your to-do list or gotten to inbox zero or have your side hustle rocking like your neighbour next door. (Newsflash, ...

Book Therapy: Special Topics in Being a Human

“Keep working to improve but also honour your fuckups as opportunities to understand where you went wrong and try again—that’s how we keep going, Brave Corespondent. That’s how we keep living.”—S. ...