The Literary Adventures of an Opinionated Bookworm

One of the biggest regrets I had during 2021 was that I let my blog slip through the cracks...which is a pity, because I like to blog. Therefore, I have decided to write once more (hopefully more than once), because I want to talk about Kamila Knows Best  by Farah Heron. You may recognize Heron's name from her previous works: The Chai Factor  and Accidentally Engaged. Both of these novels were well written, humorous, and heartwarming, but I loved them all the more because they are set in Canada and written by a Canadian.  Kamila Knows Best  stays true to all of these points. Set in Toronto, this adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma was faithful to the original while adding twists and turns that are accurate for a modern retelling. Kamila is an accountant who loves her father, friends, dog and career deeply, but all of these things means she is too busy for a serious relationship -- or so she claims. Kamila also fancies herself a matchmaker, and takes pride in the fact th...

Many months ago, I wrote a post called, "You Need More Than A Fancy Title" as a critique to a feminist manifesto I read, and it is time to reiterate this critique for the realm of novels.  How to Marry Keanu Reeves in 90 Days K.M. Jackson captured my attention with this title, partially because of the "How to" reference but mostly because of Keanu Reeves. The Matrix  trilogy (the trailer for the fourth movie is out, so I guess it is no longer a trilogy) was one of the first series I got into with my dad, and while the premise was confusing for adolescent me, Keanu captured my heart.  Such was the case for Bethany Lu, Jackson's protagonist, who is shocked to the core by a tweet stating Keanu will soon tie the knot. Because of her love for Keanu, Lu drops everything to find Keanu and stop the wedding, dragging her friend True Erickson along with her.  This is usually the type of book I love to read while I am in school; it's fun, easy to follow, and you tend t...

Ariel  is a collection of poetry by Sylvia Plath which was originally published by her husband, Ted Hughes, after her death. The restored edition was published by their daughter, Frieda Hughes, in the style she says Plath initially intended. The fact that two people who knew Plath published her work after she died forces me to ponder the question, who takes care of an author's work after they pass away? Ariel The restored edition of Ariel  was a beautiful way to get to know Sylvia Plath; not only is each poem carefully written, but the way in which Frieda Hughes published them (the order Plath wrote them in) makes the reader sympathize with Plath's struggles. I could really feel how she descended from optimism and happiness to thoughts that were more chaotic and depressed.  I also recommend this edition because after the last poem, Plath's daughter included the drafts of the poems and the edits Plath made to her poetry, which shows the care and planning that went in to ev...

I've long felt that Shakespeare is overrated, which is probably an unpopular opinion to have. I never saw the romance in Romeo and Juliet, and had little patience to read his other plays (although, I do like some of the movie adaptations that came out in the 90s and early 2000s). But as I have said before, I am willing to admit when I am wrong, and I was wrong in assuming that all of Shakespeare's Sonnets would be icky and romantic. The Sonnets As a part of my Master's, I am going to be a teaching assistant for a course called Literature and Culture, which will be looking into how poetry reflects the time in which it was written. Shakespeare is a good example of how writing reflects culture, and after reading his sonnets I can see why they were chosen for the course.  Shakespeare was interested in more than love, but that was also among the many themes he wrote about. His sonnets also discussed life, death and legacy--what a person leaves behind, and what is worthwhile. The...

"For all the girls and women pushed into the abyss of expendability and invisibility." Firekeeper's Daughter It is hard to know where to start this review. Is it a five star read? Absolutely. The must read book of the year? Quite possibly.  The thing about Angeline Boulley's debut novel is that, it is written as a young adult fictional thriller, but it is full of a reality that Indigenous and Native women live every day.  Daunis Fontaine is an eighteen-year-old in the midst of life altering traumatic events when she is approached by the FBI, asking her to be a confidential informant. With the rising meth-related deaths in the Sault community, the FBI believe that Daunis' knowledge of traditional Ojibwe culture and chemistry will help her identify those who are lacing meth with an unknown substance. With all of this drama going on, it's hard to believe Daunis still has to navigate her first year of university... This book is technically young adult fiction, but...

It is not very often that a book cover will match something in my closet; but the girl on the cover of The Glorious Guinness Girls by Emily Hourican is wearing a dress so similar to my high school grad dress, I just had to do a special post/review for it. The "Fanny" of the Guinness Family The relationship between England and Ireland during the 1920s is severely tense, and with the conclusion of the Great War, some families are excelling while others struggle. Such was the case for Felicity, whose mother sends her to live with the Guinness (yes, the beer) family because she cannot afford to keep her. Thus, Felicity (Fliss) enters the glamorous, privileged lives of Aileen, Maureen, and Oonagh Guinness. Despite the fact that it is clear she is not a Guinness Girl herself, Fliss becomes dedicated to the three sisters, accompanying them to parties and becoming their confidant.  A cross between Mansfield Park and Downton Abbey, this book is definitely a window into the roaring tw...