AltWeeklies Wire
'The Boys in the Trees' Speaks of Small Town Tragedynew
For readers raised on the quick paced, urban true crime rhythm of Law & Order, Swan's book may often feel like a slow, dry read. But this is a short, subtle and ultimately searing book.
Montreal Mirror |
Juliet Waters |
11-07-2008 |
Fiction
Jonathan Ames Plays an Anti-Superhero in the Graphic Novel 'The Alcoholic'new
The Alcoholic is destined to become a classic, and Ames owes a large part of this to the graphic skills of Dean Haspiel. There's something irresistibly resonant about Haspiel's style, especially in Jonathan A.'s early years as an ordinary self-loathing teen.
Montreal Mirror |
Juliet Waters |
10-10-2008 |
Fiction
In 'American Wife,' the President's One Good Decision is Choosing His Wifenew
Curtis Sittenfeld's novel is based very loosely on Laura Bush's life. Here she's known as Alice Blackwell, and comes from small-town Wisconsin, not small-town Texas. But that's where the major differences end (unless you want to count the fact that, in the book, she marries a man who you somehow can't help liking).
Montreal Mirror |
Juliet Waters |
10-06-2008 |
Fiction
P.J. Bracegirdle Gets Spooky in 'Fiendish Deeds'new
The book business has been buzzing like vultures over the fact that 9–12 year olds is the only demographic where reading is on the increase. Bracegirdle (his real name) is a witty, intelligent voice that reads like a not so bloodless Lemony Snicket.
Montreal Mirror |
Juliet Waters |
08-29-2008 |
Fiction
'Stuff White People Like' Goes from Blog to Booknew
Something about SWPL already feels stale, as though the big thing missing on this list of 150 things, is #151, Stuff White People Like.
Montreal Mirror |
Juliet Waters |
07-11-2008 |
Fiction
Your Favorite Sasquatch is Back with 'Bigfoot: I Not Dead'new
The grammatically challenged sociopathic hero returns in Graham Roumieu's sasquatch sequel.
Montreal Mirror |
Juliet Waters |
06-27-2008 |
Fiction
'Infidelities' Explores the Struggles of Croatians at Home and Abroadnew
Novakovich's collection of short stories represents a departure from the standard narrative of Eastern Europeans leaving the old country behind. It flows from a more fluid consciousness, able to shift between the horrors, joys and ordinary realities of both worlds.
Montreal Mirror |
Juliet Waters |
05-02-2008 |
Fiction
Love is the Bug in 'My Mistress's Sparrow Is Dead'new
Cold hearts rule in this Jeffrey Eugenides collection.
Montreal Mirror |
Juliet Waters |
02-22-2008 |
Fiction
Curse of the Fukunew
Junot Diaz's first novel is a wondrous but brief account of a Dominican growing up in Jersey.
Montreal Mirror |
Juliet Waters |
11-12-2007 |
Fiction
Reality Goes Hyper in 'Spook Country'new
Gibson recently stated in an interview that technology is the only thing driving change on our planet -- if you're happy believing that, you'll have an easy time enjoying Spook Country.
Montreal Mirror |
Juliet Waters |
09-21-2007 |
Fiction
Canada Exists, Sanjania Doesn’tnew
Stephen Mache's fictional anthology, Shining at the Bottom of the Sea, has cultural challenges remarkably similar to Canada's.
Montreal Mirror |
Juliet Waters |
09-07-2007 |
Fiction
'King-Cat': Drawing Badly Wellnew
Bleak, elemental, funny, angry, melancholy genius is scrawled with deceptive skill across an anthology that includes strips from the first 50 issues of his popular self-published zine.
Montreal Mirror |
Juliet Waters |
08-27-2007 |
Fiction
'Planet Reese': Feel-bad Funnew
Cordelia Strube creates a realm wrought with black comedy, depression and sympathy in her seventh novel.
Montreal Mirror |
Juliet Waters |
07-02-2007 |
Fiction
Under the Munro Influencenew
Away From Her is inspirational, though not everyone gets it right.
Montreal Mirror |
Juliet Waters |
05-24-2007 |
Fiction
Tags: Alice Munro, Away from Her
American Uglynew
Innocence is not all lost in American Youth, Phil LaMarche's tale of rural alienation.
Montreal Mirror |
Juliet Waters |
05-03-2007 |
Fiction
Tags: American Youth, Phil LaMarche
