2027 Reading Challenges - My Individual Challenges

At the start of every year, with my one Goodreads Book Club, we start off the year with a set of challenges. Not everybody needs participate but for those of us who do, they are broken down in Reading Challenges, the 12 + 4 Challenges that I've highlighted in the last three posts. The only rule for those 12 + 4's is that you need to choose 12 books with 4 Alternates and that you can't change them once the year commences. The other challenges are the Individual Reading Challenges. You can pick what you want as a challenge, e.g. Series, Start a series, Books by Country, etc.

This is where I am now, seeing what I want for my Individual Challenges. For the moment, I've chosen 5 challenges, three are similar to my 2026 Individual Challenges and I've got 2 others. So let's see.

1. Individual Reading Challenges - Dusty Books. (Explanation here. The First 3 challenges take into account how many books I've got on my shelf and when I added them to the list. As of today, there are 1268 books on my TBR book shelf. So what I do is divide in 3; 423 books. I usually pick a book for these challenges via Random Number Generator. The Dustiest are the 1st 423, etc. At the moment, the dustiest book on my shelf is Glass Houses by Jane Haddam (Gregor Demarkian #22 / 2007).

"For over a year, Philadelphia has been plagued by a serial killer dubbed the Plate Glass Killer by the media. But finally, the police think they've caught a break - a man has been arrested at the site of the most recent murder, covered in the victim's blood. The man taken into custody is Henry Tyder, the scion of one of the most socially prominent families on Philadelphia's Main Line, a family that possesses the largest tracts of real estate in the city. He's also a hopeless alcoholic, frequently homeless and often estranged from his family.

Although Tyder has apparently confessed to the crime, his attorney believes him to be too disordered to be capable of actually committing the crimes and asks Gregor Demarkian, retired head of the FBI's Behavioral Sciences Unit, to look into the case. Gregor, however, has other things on his mind - after having been away for nearly a year without a word to him, his live-in girlfriend, Bennis Hannaford, has returned to Cavanaugh Street. And everyone seems to have seen her but Gregor. While he waits for Bennis to finally appear, Gregor finds himself enmeshed in complex case of the Plate Glass Killer. Specifically, what would have drive Tyder to confess to crimes he was seemingly incapable of committing and, more importantly, if Tyder isn't the killer, then who really is behind the murders of the Plate Glass Killer."

2. Individual Reading Challenges - Middle Range. This would be those books from #424 - 847, the middle third so to speak. This will of course change until end 2026 as I read more books and also add more books. But for fun and games, let's pick the very middle of the pack, #634 - Tarzan and the Forbidden City by Edgar Rice Burroughs (Tarzan #20 / 1938).

"Tarzan cared little for the fate of adventurer Brian Gregory, drawn to the legendary city of Ashair by the rumor of the Father of Diamonds, the world's hugest gem. But to the ape-man the tie of friendship was unbreakable, and Paul d'Arnot's pleas moved him to agree to guide the expedition Gregory's father and sister organized for his rescue. The enigmatic Atan Thome was also obsessed with the Father of Diamonds, and planted agents in the Gregory safari to spy out its route and sabotage its efforts. Both parties reached their goal, remote Ashair . . . as prisoners of its priests, doomed to die in loathsome rites."

3. Individual Reading Challenges - Newest, Shiniest Books. The books, as of today, would range from 848 to the end, as that ending changes over the course of  the years. If I pick my newest and shiniest purchase today, it would be Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros (The Empyrean #2 / 2023).

4. Individual Reading Challenges - Monthly Genre Challenges. Assuming we keep this challenge in our book club, we tend to vote on a specific genre each month, and then, of course, try to read books in each one. We'll see how that one plays out. It does add variety to your reading pleasures and lets you explore genres you might not normally try.

5. Individual Reading Challenges - Non - Fiction. I might change this one as we do have a separate thread for tracking Non Fiction reading. But if I make it a specific challenge, it will allow me actually focus on the genre. In my Goodreads listings, I've broken my Non - Fiction down into various categories, History, Non-Fiction, Biography, Politics. This possible selection fits into history sub-genre; The Road to Wigan Pier by George Orwell (1937).

"George Orwell's 'Urban Rides'. in which he recorded the state of the nation in a time of mass unemployment.

These factual, shocking, but sublimely human reports, phrased in a vivid style and shot with a wary mistrust of the political cant of the intelligentsia of all hues, make Orwell's contemporary comment on the miner's life, on class, on slums, unemployment, and malnutrition 'as fresh and stimulating as when he first wrote' - Daily Telegraph"

So there you go, my prospective challenges for 2027. As we get into December, I'll start talking about how successful I've been with my 2026 Reading Challenges. Now to get back to brekkie and my homemade banana bread, which Jo is enjoying. :)

A Mid-Month Reading Update

Some of the Book I hope to read before end 2026

The missus is having a nap so I'll start this tonight. If I complete the post, good enough. Otherwise, I'll get back to it tomorrow sometime. 

Books Completed (4 books completed since my last update, for a total of 6 in October so far)

1.  Frostbite; A Graphic Novel by Ian Boothby, illustrated by Pia Guerra (YA / Hor / 2026)

"Frostbite: A Graphic Novel by Ian Boothby and illustrated by Pia Guerra was a nice quick little horror story for YA in a graphic novel format. The teaser sort of says it all, ‘Beware the Dead of Winter’. It starts off with a busload of young players trying to get home in the night. The driver and coach are lost. The bus skids off the road. The coach and driver head off to see if they can find help. They see a cottage in the wood. The driver sinks into the snow. The kids run to the cottage but…… all of them disappear.

Move ahead a few years and we meet Jen and Dante. The are teenage influencers, traveling on a chopper to find a location to snowboard. The chopper flies ahead to meet them. Bev is dropped off to film them coming down the hill. Dante has his ankle slashed somehow. They proceed to the chopper but…. No crew!

The trio make their way into a small town and their gear is stolen by a guy on a snowmobile. The trio with the help of two young people from town head off in chase. They arrive at the river, but they’re not supposed to go over it. The land beyond is a forbidden zone. But, hey, guess what, they go anyway and that’s where they meet… well, now you have to continue, don’t you.

It’s an entertaining, fast paced story and well drawn by Boothby’s wife Pia Guerra. Not a lot of time developing the characters, it’s the setting and the story that is most important. It was enjoyable, not too terrifying or graphic, just enough to hold your interest. (3.5 stars)"

2. Heart on my Sleeve; Stories of a Life Well Worn by Jeanne Beker (Non Fic / 2024).

"Heart on My Sleeve: Stories from a Life Well Worn by Jeanne Beker is a memoir by a Canadian fashion icon. Jeanne Beker was one of the first VJs on Canada's Much Music and reported on music. She also was a fashion reporter on various publications and TV shows.

Jeanne tells the story in a unique fashion. Each chapter features a piece of clothing from her life and how it relates to her life at that time and how it relates to her life in general. The chapter called Itsy-Bitsy Bikini is about her interview with Andy Summers of The Police, which he wanted conducted in a bubbly bath surrounded by candles. Jeanne was game and wore the 'itsy bitsy bikini'. She also saved Andy when his hair caught fire from the candles. (The video of that interview is still on You Tube if you're interested in seeing it.)

Jeanne has had an interesting complete life. She's interviewed and made friends with many Canadian stars; Toller Cranston, Gordon Lightfoot, Linda Evangelista and also international celebrities. She's fought breast cancer (Lost and Found), married a few times, raised to lovely daughters, was awarded to the Order of Canada. 

Her life seems so fascinating and she tells the story in an easy, informal, light style. Considering that I grew up during this period, it made it even more interesting for me. As the title of the book says, Jeanne lived a life well worn. (3.5 stars)"

3. Tuck Everlasting; the Graphic Novel by Natalie Babbitt, illustrated by K. Woodman-Maynard (Fiction / 2026)

"I have never read the original Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt but I had heard of it. A couple of years ago, I discovered Tuck Everlasting: The Graphic Novel, adapted and illustrated by K. Woodman-Maynard, the cover was so appealing that I thought I should check it out. Over the past few years I've begun to really explore the world of graphic novels, including those adapting classic novels.

Right from the get-go, this story dragged me in. In its most basic, it's an exploration of life and death. Young Winnie Foster lives a protected life with her parents and gran. She spends most of her time in conversation with a toad. She decides to run away from home but is hesitant to do so. One night a man in a yellow suit visits. This is after a strange music is heard from the forest that is owned by the Tucker family.

The next morning, Winnie decides to explore the glade, even though it's forbidden to her. She sees a young  man, Jesse Tuck, drinking from a spring. When he sees her, he hides it, even though Winnie is thirsty and wants a drink. Jesse's mother, Mae Tuck and his brother Miles Tuck spirit Winnie away as they are worried about what she's discovered. The man in yellow sees this and follows.

The Tuck family promise to send Winnie home but they need to explain about the spring and the dangers of its life-changing powers. She ends up spending the night with them and each member of the Tuck family tells how dangerous the spring is and how its impacted their lives. Meanwhile, the man in the yellow suit has gone to the Foster family and says he'll get Winnie back, but the family has to sell him the grove first.

I think I'll stop there because you really should read the rest for yourself. The story moves along quickly but for its speed, it provides so much thoughtful conversation. The characters are all well-crafted and relatable. There is a strong tension to the story as the yellow-suited man and police approach the Tuck's farm. There is also a sadness that's unexpected at the end. It's a unique story and at the end there is an interview between Natalie Babbitt's daughter and K. Woodman-Maynard that provides more insight into the story and Maynard's interpretation. Beautifully drawn and colored, it's an excellent adaptation. (4.0 stars)"

4. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (Fan / Empyrean #1 / 2023)

"I started reading Fourth Wing the 1st book in the Empyrean fantasy series by Rebeca Yarros about 4 months ago. I readily admit that its size was kind of intimidating. But every time I put it down, no matter how many other books I was working through, when I would pick it up next, I found it so easy to get back into the flow of the story, to remember the excellently constructed characters. And when I finally settled down to complete it, it took no time at all. Just an excellent, entertaining story.

Violet (sometimes nicknamed Violence) Sorrengail had planned to become a Scribe like her dead father, to spend her life in the vaults of books in the kingdom of Navarre. But her mother, the commanding general, had other plans. She assigns Violet to the Rider Quadrant where she will follow in the footsteps of her brother Brennan and her sister Mira. What you have to know is that Riders in fact ride dragons. Yup. And as they progress through their first year at the Rider Academy, a dragon will eventually bond with one of the students.... or maybe just kill him / her. 

This is not your standard first year at college. You either pass or fail and, by fail, I mean, die. And you can kill your fellow 1st years. The less there are to compete for a dragon bonding, the better the odds of survival. Violet makes an especially tempting target. She's the commanding - general's daughter. She's not very big and prone to injury. And there are a number of 'marked' students, the children of a traitorous uprising whose parents were executed by Mom. They tend to bear a grudge against Violet.

Mira is completely against Violet being assigned to the Rider Quadrant but when she can't persuade dear Mom to change her mind, she equips Violet as well as she can, with a special dragon skin armor and other things. Violet's best friend, Dain, a 2nd year and also a flight commander constantly encourages Violet to sneak to the Scribe Quadrant, but Violet refuses.

There are people who especially hate Violet; I mentioned those kids of the executed parents.. Well, Xaden Riorson's father led the rebellion and he's now Violet's boss, Fourth Wing Commander. There is also Jack Barlowe who really wants to make a name for himself by killing Violet.

So the stage is set and Violet needs to survive to be bonded with a dragon. She does have some friends, especially Rhiannon who helps her with her battle training and things like that.

The story moves along at a steady pace and Violet proves she's no push over and isn't beyond a bit of trickery to help her defeat her opponents (a touch of poison anyone?) She eventually bonds with a dragon... no wait, not just one. But I won't go any further with that part, just know that she continues to progress. She starts to realize that who might be her enemy, might not be and who she thought of as friends, well, they might not be so friendly. 

The longer she lasts, the stronger she gets and finally, as all dragon riders do, she finds out her powers (you either get the power or you die because it basically eats you up)

There are intrigues within the Rider's Quadrant and it seems that the students aren't being told everything that is going on in the outside world. 

It's such a rich, fantastic story. The world Yarros has created is cleverly opened up to our view. The characters are all so well-developed that you grow to like or hate them as you learn more about them. The developing relationship between Violet and Xaden is surprising and neatly handled. Personally, I could have done without the description of the physical relationship, but I can see its importance to what happens later in the story. All in all, a great start to a series and I may have to get #2. (4.5 stars)"

The other books I've set aside to read by end 2026)

Currently Reading (started since my last update)

1. Case Pending by Dell Shannon (Lt. Mendoza #1 / 1960). I have read one other book in this crime series. It was most enjoyable.

"A murdered girl, a missing doll, an illegally adopted child - a trilogy of mystery for Lieutenant Luis Mendoza."

2. The Motive (also Death of a Nymph) by Evelyn Piper (Mys / 1950). I have read Bunny Lake is Missing and The Nanny, also by Piper.

"Shirley Kolp was not an easy person to understand. Someone really had to know her to want to murder her.

Evidently, someone did.
But who?... And why?"

3. Driven by Mason Coile (Hor / 2026). I've read books by Coile under his real name, Andrew Pyper. 

"Jamie Newcross wants to disappear. His wife and baby girl have abandoned him, and his only wish is to retreat from society. Because, as it turns out, Jamie Newcross is also being haunted. Every house, condo, or apartment he moves into is plagued with ghosts—at the end of the bed or when pulling back the shower curtain. He hasn’t been able to sleep in weeks. 

But Jamie has a plan. He posts queries online and finds someone wanting to get rid of their Lion—the world’s most advanced self-driving car—a sleek, private, contained vessel that is one-hundred percent safe. Or so he thought.  

Because now, Jamie has woken up to the Lion speeding down a dark road, the hood is dented—wait, is that blood?—and the car will not respond, or stop, or let him out.  

As the miles rack up and Jamie becomes increasingly complicit in his car’s choices, he's forced to face the tragic past he has kept buried. Driven is a taut, near-future fever-dream. Mason Coile delivers another one-sitting read that blends science fiction and psychological horror to explore loneliness, grief, and the things that make us human."

Newest Arrivals

1. Treat Them as Buffalo by Blair Palmer Yoxall (Indigenous / Hist Fic / 2026).

"A gripping historical novel about the mysterious kidnapping of Métis boys, the women who search for them, and a town set on edge, told against the backdrop of the North-West Resistance of 1885

During a game of buffalo hunters, young Nikosis Eriksen’s cousin goes missing in broad daylight, leaving nothing but scuff marks in the muddy spring snow. It’s the first in a series of kidnappings of local Métis boys that sets the town of Lac-aux-Trois-Pistoles, Saskatchewan, on high alert. As the new detachment of North-West Mounted Police drag their feet, the women of the Eriksen-Desjarlais family—Niko’s Nimama, Auntie, and Chapan—take on the desperate search for Cousin.

Gunslinger Kate McCannon and her band of women and children have been living in a camp outside town while the family men have joined Louis Riel and Gabriel Dumont in the resistance. News of the victory at Duck Lake arrives in the camp as McCannon and the women join the search for the missing boys.

When a boy is recovered alive yet badly wounded, the need to find Cousin becomes all the more pressing. It isn’t until Niko discovers the truth about the man responsible for the kidnappings that he is forced to grapple with his own identity and resolves to bring Cousin back, no matter what.

Told in the unforgettable young voice of Niko, Treat Them as Buffalo is a remarkable debut novel about the violent events of 1885 and the survival of a people when threat comes from every direction.

2. Peck & Peck by Bonnie Garmus (Fic / 2026). I enjoyed Lessons in Chemistry so very much. I'm looking forward to trying this.

"Batter Gray is worried about his future. Even when he was eleven, his classmates seemed to have settled on a goal: doctor, lawyer, broker, engineer. Good jobs that automatically command respect, security, 401Ks. Now Batter is in his early twenties, living in New York City, and he wants something different; something that alienates some readers and bores most. Poetry. And yet—to him and exactly thirty-nine editors at a company called Peck & Peck—poetry not only represents the power of humanity but holds the key to its survival.

Batter is named after his mother’s heroic dog. An identical twin who lost his brother at birth, he finds himself confronted by the everyday dualities that make up life: right vs. wrong, truth vs. lies, rejection vs. acceptance. It’s almost as if his dead brother is a reminder: there are always two sides to every story.

No, wait. Make that three."

3. How to Eat an Elephant; One Voter at a Time by Sarah Longwell (Non Fic / 2026). Jo and I enjoy watching the Bulwark online and Longwell is the founder.

"The playbook for consigning MAGA-style politics to the ash heap of history (where it belongs). Featuring a foreword by Jonathan V. Last (AKA JVL).

After Donald Trump won the 2024 election, Sarah Longwell did what she's done nearly every week for the past eight years: She sat down with voters. She conducted hundreds of focus groups, listening to thousands of ordinary Americans—Republicans, Democrats, and the politically homeless—with the goal of understanding politics through the eyes of the people who will decide our country’s future.

American voters, and what they want for their country, are at the heart of How to Eat an Elephant. Longwell, the founder of The Bulwark and one of the sharpest political communicators of her generation, lays out the playbook for building a coalition big enough, bold enough, and tough enough to defeat authoritarian populism for good. Not with a single election. Not by doing another poll or debating the benefits of being more progressive or more moderate, but by building something new: A modern pro-democracy movement that can create its own communications infrastructure—just like the right has done for decades—achieve narrative dominance, elevate more compelling leaders, and talk to voters like adults.

Drawing on her own unlikely political journey from a lesbian Republican operative to the vanguard of the anti-MAGA movement, Longwell delivers a book that is equal parts war manual and pep talk—with her personal and professional story woven throughout. With her trademark bluntness and humor, she explains exactly how we got here and, more importantly, what we must build next—all while directly quoting the most important but overlooked people in the country: the voters themselves.

She answers the question: How do you eat an elephant? One voter at a time."

4. The American Way of Killing; The Invention of an Epidemic by Malcolm Gladwell (Non Fic / 2026) I've read a couple of other books by Gladwell and he is always interesting and informative.

"Malcolm Gladwell’s most urgent book yet: a provocative investigation of America’s epidemic of gun violence.

The United States has far more homicides than any of its peers around the world. Why?

In this groundbreaking book, Malcolm Gladwell explores the American “peculiarity”—how the world’s wealthiest country came to suffer from a problem typically only seen in the world’s poorest countries.

Drawing on original interviews, archival and social science research, and his trademark insight, Gladwell approaches the American paradox through a series of stories. What can we learn from the miracle of a young gunshot victim in Washington, D.C.? How have the legal troubles of a seventeenth-century English knight influenced American attempts at gun control? Why would a European police chief be baffled by the graduation ceremony at any American police academy?

In a sweeping narrative, Gladwell travels from a shooting range in North Carolina, to the South Side of Chicago, to an old plantation house in Alabama, painting a picture of a country that does not understand its most pressing social problem, and as result, does not understand how to fix it."

There you go. See any books that tweak your fancy?

A Look Forward to the End of 2026

I'll be doing a little prognosticating in this post, seeing what books I might finish the year with. But first, let's update my reading and such. 

Not a lot to report since my last update. No books completed although I did give up on one.

Books Not Completed

1. The Strange Adventures of Mr. Andrew Hawthorn by John Buchan (Short Stories / 1932). I like Buchan but I just didn't have the energy for this one.

"The Strange Adventures of Mr Andrew Hawthorn and Other Stories by John Buchan, published by Penguin Books 2008 ended up being a DNF for me. I have read a few books by Mr. Buchan and I tended to enjoy them, especially the Richard Hannay books (The 39 Steps for one). This collection of stories was published between 1896 and 1932 and while I plodded along, I can't say that they really grabbed me. 

I think I found them just a bit ponderous. I kind of liked Politics of the May Fly because it added a bit of humour. I'll keep the book because I like the cover and maybe try it again someday when I might be more in the mood for it. 140 pages read, 7 stories completed of the group. NR"

New Arrivals (Two Arrivals in October)

1. Republic of Glass by Catherine Leroux (CanLit / Dys / 2024). I also have The Future by Leroux.

"In near-future Montreal, where housing is a luxury that few can afford, rumours have begun to stir.

Sidonie, a trailblazing journalist, is the first to break the news of people disappearing off the streets—unsettling reports of unmarked government vehicles and attacks that have left encampment communities on edge. The story spreads like wildfire, thrusting Sidonie into the spotlight as the trusted mouthpiece for the most vulnerable population. But as public outrage and concern mount, Sidonie must decide how much she’s willing to risk to tell this story.

Eventually she finds herself on the other side of the mirror, within the walls of a new kind of institution whose residents may or may not be paid for their labour, and of which they may or may not be captive. In this context, Sidonie’s only escape is through her writing. As she reconstructs the events that led her here in her journal, she begins to realize that the page can provide an escape in more ways than one, and fiction, not truth, might set her free."

2. The Works of Vermin by Hiron Ennes (Fan / 2025). A new author for me.

"He was sent to kill a pest. Instead, he found a monster.

Enter the decadent, deadly city of Tiliard, carved into the stump of an ancient tree. In its canopy, the pampered elite warp minds with toxic perfume; in its roots, gangs of exterminators hunt a colossal worm with an appetite for beauty.

In a complex, chaotic city, Guy Moulène has a simple keep his sister out of debt. For her sake, he'll take on any job, no matter how vile.

As an exterminator, Guy hunts the uncanny pests that crawl up from the river. These vermin are all strange, and often dangerous. His latest quarry is a worm the size of a dragon with a deadly venom and a ravenous taste for artwork. As it digests Tiliard from the sewers to the opera houses, its toxin reshapes the future of the city. No sane person would hunt it, if they had the choice.

Guy doesn't have a choice."

Time to Prognosticate

I tend to read about 10+ books a month, so I'm going to say 30 more books for 2026... hoping I might read more. At the moment, I've got 9 on the go, mostly Horror. I'll list them by Challenge Grouping.

Currently Reading

1. 12 + 4 Challenge - Shiny New Books. I'm currently reading Heart on my Sleeve by Jeanne Beker (Non Fic / 2024). I'm about half way through this and could finish in one night as it's a nice easy book. It'll give me 12 books completed for this challenge.

2. 12 + 4 Challenge - Dustiest Books. I'm just over half way through Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy (Classics / 1881). I've been working on this book since May but I will finish as I do want to see what happens to poor Tess

3. Individual Challenges - Slightly Dusty Books. American War by Omar el Akkad (Dys / 2017). Interesting book about the 2nd Civil War. I'm over half way through it.

4. Individual Challenges - Slightly Dusty Books. Off - Season by Jack Ketchum (Dead River #1 / 1980). I'm just about half way through this and it's giving me the creeps.

5. Individual Challenges - Slightly Dusty Books - The Lodger by Marie Belloc Lowndes (1913). I've just started this and think it falls somewhere in the thriller / horror category. We'll see.

6. Individual Challenges - Shiniest Books. Another I've been working on for awhile (since mid - Jun) but will finish. Interesting fantasy with dragons. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros (2023)

7. Individual Challenges - Shiniest Books. Bunny by Mona Awad (Hor / 2019). I'm not sure about this one but I'm only about 60 pagers in.

8. Individual Challenges - Shiniest Books. Terminal by Brian Keene (Hor / 2005). A new author for me and I'm just about to crack it open.

9. Individual Challenges - Shiniest Books. Northern Nights by Michael Kelly (Short Stories / 2024). A collection of short stories in the horror genre by Canadian authors. I've read the 1st one so far.

Upcoming (in no particular order... and subject to change of course)

10. 12 + 4 Challenges - Dustiest Books. I have read 8 so far and if I finish Tess in time, then maybe one more; The Summer of the Danes by Ellis Peters (Cadfael #18 / Historical Mystery)

11. 12 + 4 Challenge - Shiny New Books. When I finish Heart on my Sleeve, I'll have completed my 12 books but I think I'll still try one more at least, Tuck Everlasting, the Graphic Novel by K. Woodman-Maynard (2025)

12. 12 + 4 Challenges - 2nd Half Books. I have 3 books left in this challenge and they are all short so I'll probably read them all. Case Pending by Dell Shannon (Lt. Mendoza #1 / 1960)

13. 12 + 4 Challenges - 2nd Half Books.  The Motive by Evelyn Piper (Mys / 1950).

14. 12 + 4 Challenges - 2nd Half Books. We Speak Through the Mountain by Premee Mohamed (Annual Migration of Birds #2 / 2024)

15. 12 + 4 Challenges - Short Stories. I've read 11 books in this challenge so plan to read one more. Games without Rules by Michael Gilbert (Mystery UK / Calder & Behrens #1 / 1967)

And the remaining 15 will come from my individual challenges.... probably. Let's say 5 from each group

Dustiest Books (#17 - 416)

16. The Trials of Rumpole by John Mortimer (Rumpole #2 / 1979).

17. Suicide Excepted by Cyril Hare (Mys / 1939)

18. Gently Between the Tides by Alan Hunter (George Gently #29 / 1982)

19. Catalina by W. Somerset Maugham (Fiction / 1948).

20. Heavenly Pleasures by Kerry Greenwood (Corinna Chapman #2 / Mys Australia / 2005)

Slightly Less Dusty Books (#417 - 832)

21. The Family Vault by Charlotte MacLeod (Kelling & Bittersohn #1 / 1979)

22. Satan's World by Poul Anderson (Sci Fi / 1968)

23. Exit Strategy by Martha Wells (Murderbot #4 / 2018)

24. Dawn by Elie Wiesel (War / 1960).

25. The Road to Oz by L. Frank Baum (Oz #5 / 1909).

Newest, Shiniest Books (#833 - Infinity)

26. The Blonde Lady by Maurice LeBlanc (Arsene Lupin #2 / 1908)

27. The Union Club Mysteries by Isaac Asimov (Short Stories / 1983).

28. Unprotected; A Memoir by Billy Porter (Biography / 2021)

29. The Story-Teller by Patricia Highsmith (Mys / 1965)

30. Seasons of Glass and Iron by Amal el-Mohtar (Fantasy / 2026)

If I can get through these before end December, I may try to squeeze in one or two more. Ideas for reading anyway. Maybe in one of my next posts I'll tell you my ideas for 2027 Reading Challenges. Enjoy October.

We have visitors in town today

CF - 18 Hornet in action

We don't often get fighters in town but for the next few days but for the next few days there will be CF-18s here on a bit of an exercise. You always know when they are here, the sound level increases a bit. 

It's mid September so lets do a bit of a reading update.

Completed Books (3 completed with one of them a DNF)

1. The Humanoid Touch by Jack Williamson (Humanoids #2 / 1980) This was my DNF book.

"I gave up on The Humanoid Touch, the 2nd book in American Sci Fi author Jack Williamson's Humanoid series. There is a 3rd book but I've been unable to find a copy. I have noted that I read the first book, but for the life of me, I can't really recall it. Maybe that explains why I gave up on The Humanoid Touch.

Williamson was in the forefront of Sci Fi, his first book published in 1928. The Humanoid Touch came out 30 years after The Humanoids. I don't even know if I can describe what I read in the 52 pages I did complete. It focuses on a young boy, going through school on some distant planet. His father is distant and basically drops the boy off at boarding schools. His father is fanatical about the threat of the Humanoid race. They want to control mankind.

Kell finds something that may help his father's efforts. He meets a girl from another planet (I wondered if she might be a humanoid spy)... and then I thought. Who cares. I just really couldn't grasp what was going on and didn't care enough to keep trying. I'm sure others have enjoyed it. I do have books from Williamson's Seetee trilogy and his Legion of Space trilogy and I'll probably try them again. But not today. So No Rating for this on."

2. The Rainbow and the Rose by Nevil Shute (Fic / 1958) Nevil Shute never disappoints.

"I honestly don't know how Nevil Shute does it to me every single darn time! He grabs me one way and then twists me around so I'm looking in the other direction and just grabs my heart strings. I've read so many of his stories (*Checks his book list, counts on his fingertips*), 15 so far, not counting this latest, The Rainbow and the Rose, and there hasn't been a bad one in the lot. 7 five-star reads and the others were all great. Anyway, enough rambling, let's look at this book.

The Rainbow and the Rose was published originally in 1958 and starts off with a bit of a preamble about Johnny Pascoe, a pilot, born in Canada, who fought in the RAF during WWI, then after traveling ends up in Tasmania at a small airfield where he crop dusts, does some flying lessons. An old friend from his England days, Ronnie Clark, an Englishman, now flying commercial liners for an Australian airline was trained by Johnny back in England. While their paths haven't crossed in awhile, he hears that a small plane had crashed in Tasmania and that Johnny was flying it.

And that starts this fascinating story. Ronnie, upon returning to Australia, checks into the crash a bit more. It seems that Johnny was flying to a small house in the interior of Tasmania with a small (VERY SMALL) airstrip to pick up a young girl with appendicitis and when he tried to land, he crashed. (btw, Johnny is in his 60s now). Johnny has a fractured skull and is in a bad way and Tasmanian authorities are trying to figure a way of either dropping off a doctor to treat both Johnny and the little girl, or to somehow fly them out.

Ronnie talks to his wife and decides to head down to Tasmania, the town of Buxton, to see if he can maybe help. He offers to fly in the local doctor. Now what this means is that in his small plane, Ronnie will land and while still taxiing, the doctor will jump out of the plane with his kit and then Ronnie will take off again. This is do to the poor runway strip and also the fact that severe weather is coming in. The doctor is rightfully kind of hesitant but grows to the idea. I'm on the edge of my seat.... They try but the weather is too bad and they have to fly back to Buxton. They try once more, but it's even worse and they return again.

They can't get there by sea because of the weather and a group with a doctor is trying to hike in (it'll take a few days). The RAAF is looking to parachute a doctor and nurse in and another flying doctor has arrived in Buxton but he doesn't want to try either until the weather improves.

Now this is told all very matter-of-factly but man oh man, the whole situation just kind of boggled my mind.

Ronnie is exhausted and stays overnight in Johnny house in Buxton so he can make another attempt to fly in the next day if weather improves. Two women show up, one a long lost daughter of Johnny's who isn't very nice and a nurse from the mainland who flew with Johnny as a hostess and wants to help the doctor, to drop in with him.

Now the story takes a strange turn that at first left me wondering.. what the heck! What about the rescue!! While sleeping in Johnny's house, Ronnie kind of jumps back into Johnny's early life and we begin to discover more about who Johnny was and about his life. In the back of my mind, I couldn't see why this was necessary. This was the story of a rescue and I wanted to get back to it. We learn about Johnny's activities in WWI, the stress and toll it took on him. We learn about his marriage and the break up of this relationship. We learn about his life as a flying school instructor, his only other real relationship and its tragic ending (Ronnie oddly shows up in this bit, as this was where he was trained by Johnny) And finally Johnny's life as he nears retirement as a commercial pilot, the air hostess that sort of comes into his life (and the twist).....

And then the ending..... Shute does it every single time. An outstanding story with a normal story within, all tied together and just saying bye and leaving you happy, bereft... One of the great story tellers, Shute never fails. (4.5 stars)"

3. The Collected Essex County by Jeff Lemire (CanLit / Graphic / 2009). Just excellent.

"Jeff Lemire is a Canadian graphic novelist. I started his Gideon Falls horror series recently and enjoyed it very much. I was reading an article about banned books in a Canadian Broadcasting Corp (CBC) web page and his name came up again, in reference to this series, The Collected Essex County. So, of course, I thought I should check it out.

Lemire grew up in Essex County Ontario, a county which borders Windsor. So the setting he is using is familiar for this collection of stories. The artwork is stark, the stories ... difficult to describe... about life, about growing up, about relationships, about aging, death... oh, and hockey.

I readily admit that I wasn't sure what to expect as I began to read it but I just found myself just turning page after page, drawn into the story. There is young Lester in his super hero outfit, living with his uncle on his farm and making friends with Jimmy who runs the local gas station. As the story develops, we discover that Lawrence's mother died and she asked her brother, Lawrence's uncle, to raise Lawrence. Jimmy was a hockey player, managed to get into one game with the Toronto Maple Leafs, scored a goal and then took an elbow to the head, ending his career before it got started. Jimmy is supposedly slowish but befriends Lawrence. Lawrence's uncle doesn't like the friendship, the reasons which become apparent much later on.

There is the local nurse, a widow, having difficulties with her son, who tries to keep life going by helping the elderly, sometimes forcefully, which she admits. There are Lou and Vince, two brothers, both hockey players. Lou played with a minor league team and gets his younger brother Vince a tryout. Vince becomes a star, Lou falls in love with Vince's girl friend, they become distant, come together on the death of their mother and then later in life, Lou now has to take care of Vince.

And there are a number of minor short stories that were to be included in this series but are added at the end. All are related by Essex County, by their lives, but the people. It's odd but just draws you in. What a nice surprise. 4.0 stars"

Currently Reading (since my last update) I'm focusing on horror for the next month

1. Dead Men's Boots by Mike Carey (Felix Castor #3 / 2007). It's been too long since I checked out this horror series.

"You might think that helping a friend's widow to stop a lawyer from stealing her husband's corpse would be the strangest thing on your To Do list. But life is rarely that simple for Felix Castor.

A brutal murder in King's Cross bears all the hallmarks of a long-dead American serial killer, and it takes more good sense than Castor possesses not to get involved. He's also fighting a legal battle over the body - if not the soul - of his possessed friend, Rafi, and can't shake the feeling that his three problems might be related.

With the help of the succubus Juliet and paranoid zombie data-fence Nicky Heath, Castor just might have a chance of fitting the pieces together before someone drops him down a lift shaft or rips his throat out.

Or not. . ."

2. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (Classic / 1818) My copy is the 1831 revised edition.

"Obsessed with the secret of creation, Swiss scientist Dr. Victor Frankenstein cobbles together a body he’s determined to bring to life. And one fateful night, he does. When the creature opens his eyes, the doctor is repulsed: his vision of perfection is, in fact, a hideous monster. Dr. Frankenstein abandons his creation, but the monster won’t be ignored, setting in motion a chain of violence and terror that shadows Victor to his death."

New Arrivals

1. Threshold by Caitlin R. Kiernan (Chance Matthews #1 / Hor / 2001). I've enjoyed Kiernan's work very much.

"A strange girl speaks of being charged by an angel to battle monsters and claims she cannot do it alone. She needs Chance’s help.

Chance Matthews has suffered enough tragedies. The latest — her grandfather’s death — has left her shaken, convinced that she will always be alone. What she needs now is time — time to recover, time to determine what her future will be. What she doesn’t need is a strange girl with alabaster skin who knows things about Chance she can’t possibly know.

Chance doesn’t believe in angels. Or monsters. But among the artifacts left by her geologist grandparents, there lies a fossil of a creature that couldn’t possibly have ever existed.

But it did. And still does…"

2. America, USA; How Race Shadows the Nation's Anniversaries by Eddie S. Glaude Jr. (History / 2026) Jo and I watch Eddie Glaude on MS NOW regularly, such an intelligent, thoughtful, well-spoken man.

"Celebrated public intellectual Eddie S. Glaude, Jr. returns with a groundbreaking book about the vicious cycles of American history and the country’s enduring refusal to face its true nature—especially at the moments when national anniversaries steer us back toward the mythology meant to disguise the truth.

America, U.S.A., deliberately formulated and beautifully written, details a heart-wrenching exploration of America’s legacy. It is a magnificently complex combination of voices and lessons that, together, paint a sprawling and honest tableau of the United States, its complicated past, and ever more tenuous future. Glaude’s is a powerful voice of conscience in our tumultuous world, and his writing will undoubtedly leave you reeling yet ready for more. He pulls no punches, calling on us to interrogate our conceptions of innocence and freedom and the stories we tell ourselves about our past and present.

Centered around the major celebrations of America’s birthday across 250 years of history, the book offers a riveting look at the battles over who has a stake in the American story. Devastatingly candid, profoundly moving, and deeply reflective, America, U.S.A. is a shining meditation on how we might reckon with a grim past in order to strive for the better angels of our future." (If only the US listened to him)

There you go, a mid - month reading update... and, yes, the noisy planes are still circling.

Weekend Reading Update... well, it's almost the weekend.

Anthony making himself comfie in the backyard.

Jenn's been here for a week now with her dog Anthony and all is well. At the moment, Jenn is putting some flowers in a vase (which she received from a friend she met yesterday), Anthony is watching and Jo is relaxing with a game on her laptop. In my last entry I talked about horror books so it's time for a normal update. 

Just Finished

(4 books completed since I last did a reading update. It's been a bit of a slow month)

1. Talk Treaty to Me, Understanding the Basics of Treaties and Land in Canada by Crystal Gail Fraser & Sara Komarnisky (Non Fic / Can Lit / 2026).

"Over the past few years, I've been trying to educate myself on Canada's indigenous culture, history, issues. I started with some graphic novels; Katherena Vermette's A Girl Called Echo series, which talks about the history of the Metis in Manitoba, If I Go Missing by Brianna Jonnie, which is a heart breaking letter to the Winnipeg Chief of Police about missing indigenous girls and the lack of support from the police services; Five Little Indians by Michelle Good, a novel about the effects of Canada's residential schools on indigenous children; This Place: 150 Years Retold by Kateri Akiwenzie - Damm, telling the history of Canada (& a look at the future) from indigenous story - tellers; Sugar Falls, a Residential School story by by David A. Robertson, a graphic novel about residential schools; Borders by Thomas King; a graphic about an indigenous mother living in Canada with her son and her efforts to cross the Can / US border to visit her daughter living in the US. There have also been a number of Sci Fi / Dystopic stories written by indigenous authors, all interesting perspectives of the future.

The purpose for listing those books and graphics and novels wasn't to pat myself on the back but to get on to my look at two of my most recent books. The Bad Indians Book Club by Patty Krawec was a fascinating discussion of books in all genres that Patty and her Book Club podcast recommended as they also talked about issues indigenous peoples are facing. 

And finally, the subject of this review; Talk Treaty to Me: Understanding the Basics of Treaties and Land in Canada by Crystal Gail Fraser & Sara Komarnisky. This is a non fiction book released in 2026, which goes through Canada's history up until the current day and examines the issues faced by indigenous peoples because of the treaties negotiated with them, first by early settlers, the English, French, Dutch, etc. and then, when Canada became a nation, the treaties negotiated with the Canadian, provincial and territorial governments. I'll say it's a fascinating book, providing me with much information that I didn't know. But at the same time, it's a depressing book as I realize the scope of the treatment that our indigenous peoples, our neighbours, our friends were put through as they tried to learn to deal with and live in harmony with this 'settler class' that was forcing its values and ways down their throats.

The books also covers the pre-colonization / settler era, showing how North America's indigenous peoples made treaties between each other, what a treaty meant to them; a sharing of the land, living harmoniously between each other. That was not always (ever?) the case with settlers arrived. Treaties were negotiated. The understanding of what a treaty meant between the various negotiators varied. To the indigenous peoples, the concept of treaty 'focused on diplomacy and concepts of peace, friendship and non-interference'. The original Dutch settlers considered the relationship to be a paternalistic one, the Dutch as fathers, the indigenous as children. The Haudenosaunee nation rejected this. To them a treaty meant they were Brothers, 'two paths or two vessels traveling down a river together.'

The reason I mentioned all of the other books at first is because this book is kind of the center of a circle and as you branch out, you find the topics discussed in those other books, highlighted here. Residential schools, the Pass Card system meant to keep indigenous people on their reservations, in their country, non recognition of Metis and Inuit as being indigenous and therefore not requiring treaties.

As I say, it's a depressing book, but the more people try to understand the purpose of the book, the history of Canada's treatment of its indigenous population, maybe this relationship can become a more harmonious one. Optimistically, as one of the settler class, I hope small steps have been made and that we can take two steps forward to the one we probably still take back. Canada is a better country if we live harmoniously with everyone else who live here. It makes it a better place. 

OK, I'll leave it there. Read the book. (4.0 stars)"

2. Ring Shout by P. Djeli Clark (Hor / His Fic / 2020)

"Wow! Do I need to say anything else about Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark? Oh... I do? OK. Well, Ring Shout is historical fiction along with alternate history and  horror, all packed up in less than 200 pages. It's about Maryse Boudreaux and her two friends and fellow freedom fighters, Sadie, of the sharp shooting skill and Chef, also known by Cordelia, ex WWI veteran and an expert with bombs. It's 1915 in Macon, Ga. Maryse has a magical sword that channels the anger, guilt, rage of dead slaves, slave traders, etc. These three,  along with Nana Jean, a Gullah woman, a kind of witch are fighting for their lives against the Klan. 

This more than your average Klan. There are human Klan members but many have been converted to Ku Kluxers, demons who have taken over the bodies of the humans. D W Griffiths The Birth of a Nation. This film is demonized and has brought about a 2nd Klan revival and the demons are hungry. The trio  are fighting to get rid of them, to send them back to hell.

But..... But.... the three face an even stronger enemy, led by someone called Butcher Clyde. He wants, needs Maryse to help with his own invasion. Ans he's evil!!! Oh, right, Maryse also has three more mentors, three ladies who live in another time slip (let's call it that), three aunties who chose Maryse after her family was destroyed by Klan monsters. They gave her the sword.

I'll leave the plot there. It's a fascinating story. For a relatively short story, the characters are well fleshed out. The plot moves along quickly. You quickly develop strong feelings for the three women. They are all individuals and fascinating characters. There are secrets. There is lots of action. There is a lot of emotion. You may cry. Clark has grabbed you quickly, got you involved immediately and led you on a breathless race to the end. One of the best books I've read this year. (5.0 stars)"

3. Pump Six and Other Stories by Paolo Bacigalupi (Short Stories / 2008)

"Pump Six and Other Stories is the 2nd work by Paolo Bacigalupi that I've enjoyed. The first was The Windup Girl which was a unique dystopian look at the future. At least two of the stories in this collection of 10 are precursors to Windup Girl; The Calorie Man and Yellow Card Man, which features Tranh, who I think becomes Hok Sen in Wind up Girl. 

At any rate, overall I enjoyed the stories very much. I think my favorites were Pocketful of Dharma, about a young Asian boy who is paid to deliver a package, discovers its something important... Liked it very much. The Fluted Girl is about two genetically manipulated young girls who are turned into musical instruments and play each other... Weird but fascinating. Calorie Man had many themes that are explored in Windup Girl and while it was a bit, let's say technical in jargon, it was very interesting.  Yellow Card Man tells the story of Tranh, a once rich exporter, a Chinese man living in Malay, who is destroyed and is now trying to survive in the Kingdom of Thailand. Great character study.

While some weren't as good as others, and that might have been the themes, all of the stories were different and interesting. Baciogalupi creates interesting situations and characters. I enjoyed exploring this collection as it gave a perspective of the range of his story telling. I have two more of his books on my shelf. Looking forward to checking them out. (3.5 stars)"

4. How to Survive the End of the World, a Graphic Exploration of How to (Maybe) Avoid Extinction by Katy Doughty (Graphic / Non Fic / 2026)

"I saw How to Survive the End of the World: A Graphic Exploration of How to (Maybe) Avoid Extinction by Katy Doughty when I was wandering through my local book store and it looked interesting enough to check out. And I hadn't purchased a new book in a little while so what the hey.

Kate Doughty is a cartoonist and public health researcher and this book seems right up her alley. It examines possible world extinction events using history, science, analysis by experts and also great art work. The book is divided into various possible activities / events that might end civilization; plagues (viruses), nuclear explosions / volcanoes, climate activity, AI, asteroids / meteors and cosmic collapse (the Big Bang in reverse, aka Gnab Gib).

So, as a subject matter, it's kind of depressing subject but Doughty manages to also inject positivity in the story. But that doesn't mean that the subject shouldn't be taken seriously, especially the chapters on Climate Meltdown and Pandemics. Something has to be reversed in our way of treating the planet.

Because it's in a graphic novel format, the subjects are somewhat glossed over, but there is still lots of interesting facts and information. And Doughty does not play down the information, it's very thoughtful and quite scientific at times. Interesting book for dangerous times. (3.5 stars)"

Currently Reading

1. Cobra Trap by Peter O'Donnell (Short Stories / Thriller / 1996)

"Created in a 1950s comic strip that is still in syndication in more than 40 countries today, the stories of Modesty Blaise have spawned a cult following around the world. These are the first new Modesty stories in 11 years, and they span her career, from the early days of running the Network, to her shadowy work for British Intelligence. From Tangier, to the Pyrenees, to a South American jungle—Modesty and her trusted lieutenant Willie Garvin dispatch an old nemesis, upset a particularly wicked gang of kidnappers, and risk their lives to rescue old friends from certain death. The skill and nerve that Modesty and her accomplices display in combat and under pressure will delight Modesty fans, both new and old."

2. Inspector West Alone by John Creasey (Insp West #9 / 1950).

"The Inspector has been framed for murder! He is found by the police in an empty house with the body of a dead girl near him, battered with an axe bearing West's fingerprints, and the identification in his wallet is not his own! He risks his career, life and the safety of everyone close to him as he untangles this set-up."

3. A Cat Story by Ursula Murray Husted (Graphic / YA / 2020). I enjoyed Botticelli's Apprentice very much.

"A graphic novel about two irresistible cat friends on a journey to find their forever home—a journey inspired by the magic of art and storytelling.

Cilla and Betto are two friends who need a place to call home. The docks in Valletta are too wet, and the scraps of food too scarce. The city’s streets are too busy, and the humans too unreliable.

But what about the quiet garden from old kitten tales—a place where all cats are welcome, and the humans are always kind? Could the stories really be true?

As Cilla and Betto embark on a grand adventure to find out, they begin to spin a tale of their own—one that will take them through the art and stories of many journeyers who came before, and that will bring them to a surprising destination."

Newest Arrivals

It never fails that no books arrive for awhile and then I buy one and all of a sudden they all arrive.. LOL!

1. Red by Jack Ketchum (Horror / 1996). I've read one book by Ketchum and it was very scary.

"Jack Ketchum’s previous novel, The Lost , caught readers’ attention like a well-timed gunshot. Fans and critics alike hailed it for its power, its thrills, and its gripping style, and recognized Ketchum as a master of suspense. Now, Jack Ketchum is back to frighten us again with… Red ! It all started with a simple act of brutality. Three boys shot and killed an old man’s dog. No reason, just plain meanness. But the dog was the best thing in the old man’s world, and he wasn’t about to let it pass. He wanted justice, and he’d make sure the kids paid for what they did, even if it cost him his life. They picked the wrong old man to mess with. And as the fury and violence escalate, they’re about to learn that…the hard way."

2. One Message Remains by Premee Mohamed (Short Stories / Fan / 2025). I keep buying books by Mohamed. This was nominated for the Ursula K. Le Guin Award for 2026.

"Pageantry, pomp, pretense, and peril—"The General's Turn,” originally published in The Deadlands, drew readers into the dark world of a ceremony where Death herself might choose to join the audience... or step onto the stage.

Award-winning author Premee Mohamed presents three brand new stories set in this morally ambiguous world of war and magic. In “One Message Remains,” Major Lyell Tzajos leads his team on a charity mission through the post-armistice world of East Seudast, exhuming the bones and souls of dead foes for repatriation. But the buried fighters may have one more fight left in them—and they have chosen their weapons well.

In “The Weight of What is Hollow,” Taya is the latest apprentice of a long-honored tradition: building the bone-gallows for prisoners of war. But her very first commission will pit her skills against both her family and her oppressor.

Finally, in “Forsaking All Others,” ex-soldier Rostyn must travel the little-known ways by night to avoid his pursuers, for desertion is punishable by death. As he flees to the hoped-for sanctuary of his grandmother's village, he is joined by a fellow deserter—and, it seems, the truth of a myth older than the land itself.

“Premee Mohamed is one of Canada's most exciting thinkers and writers of speculative fiction. Her stories bravely go where few dare to, each employing a deftness of language and surety of form that offers a fresh experience each time. One Message Remains and the stories within are no exception, each tale different from the other, yet all very much quintessential Premee stories. Readers of her works, long and short both, will find much to love here.” — Suyi Davies Okungbowa, author of Son of the Storm and Lost Ark Dreaming"

3. Sunward by William Alexander (Sci Fi / 2025). This was another nominee. I ordered a few of them.

"A cozy debut science fiction novel by National Book Award–winning writer William Alexander, this story of found family follows a planetary courier training adolescent androids in a solar system grappling with interplanetary conflict after a devastating explosion on Earth’s moon.

Captain Tova Lir chose a life as a courier rather than get involved in her family’s illustrious business in politics. Set in humanity’s far future, hiring a planetary courier is essential for delivering private messages across the stars.

Encouraged by friends, Tova begins mentoring baby bots, juvenile AI who are developmentally in their teens, and trains them how to interact within society essentially becoming their foster mom. Her latest charge, Agatha Panza von Sparkles, named herself on their first run from Luna to Phoebe station. But on their return, they encounter a derelict spaceship and a lurking assassin, igniting a thrilling chase across the solar system.

Tova and Agatha’s daring actions leave Agatha’s mind vulnerable, relying on Tova’s former AI pupils for help. As Tova starts gathering her scattered family around her, she is chased through the solar system by forces who want her captured and her family erased. This debut science fiction novel by National Book Award–winning author William Alexander is a must-read for fans of Becky Chambers and Ursula K. Le Guin. Lovers of poignant science fiction, where the bonds of found family, the evolution of AI, and the building distrust of centuries of bias, come together in this visionary look at humanity’s future."

4. Jade City by Fonda Lee (The Green Bone Saga #1 / 2017) Fonda Lee is a Canadian author of Fantasy & Sci Fi and I checked her out when I discovered she was one of the judges for the 2026 Awards.. I believe one of her books was also listed on the CBC Arts site.

"JADE CITY is a gripping Godfather-esque saga of intergenerational blood feuds, vicious politics, magic, and Kungfu.

The Kaul family is one of two crime syndicates that control the island of Kekon. It's the only place in the world that produces rare magical jade, which grants those with the right training and heritage superhuman abilities.

The Green Bone clans of honorable jade-wearing warriors once protected the island from foreign invasion--but nowadays, in a bustling post-war metropolis full of fast cars and foreign money, Green Bone families like the Kauls are primarily involved in commerce, construction, and the everyday upkeep of the districts under their protection.

When the simmering tension between the Kauls and their greatest rivals erupts into open violence in the streets, the outcome of this clan war will determine the fate of all Green Bones and the future of Kekon itself."

5. Villain Hitting for Vicious Little Nobodies by Lindsay Wong (Hor / 2026). I've been checking out the CBC webpage as they regularly recommend Canadian authors and books to check out. This was one and it sounded interesting.

"A young woman signs her life away in the ancient Chinese tradition of corpse marriage in this wickedly hilarious novel about class, ambition, and the burden of being an impoverished model minority.

Poor, vicious Locinda Lo is a nobody with a powerful witch for a grandmother and an undead corpse-kid-sister as her only friend. A broke MFA dropout living in Vancouver with six roommates and zero job prospects, she’s buried so deep in debt she might as well be six feet under—and her family is in danger of being buried along with her.

Desperate to escape her financial woes and save her grandmother and sister, Locinda signs a contract with a nefarious company, Joyful Coffin & Co. Matchmaking Services, to be auctioned off as a corpse bride to the highest bidder. Next thing she knows, she’s being smuggled underground into the damp caves where her training coffin awaits.

As Locinda prepares for a rich, dying dearly beloved to claim her as his bride-to-be in the Afterlife, her past becomes twisted with that of her grandmother, Baozhai. A feared and revered Villain Hitter, or witchy curse-monger, Baozhai’s legacy stretches from 1920s China to the Battle of Hong Kong in the 40s to New York City thereafter. Across the generational divide, one thing becomes achingly clear to them you can’t outrun your ghosts.

Villain Hitting for Vicious Little Nobodies is a daring, genre-bending meditation on life, death, and the murderous cost of living in between. It lays bare the societal and cultural expectations placed on Chinese women and the devastating price of enduring them. This chilling masterclass in fiction cements Lindsay Wong as one of the most provocative Canadian horror writers of our time."

6. Medicine Walk by Richard Wagamese (Indigenous / CanLit / 2014). I've been trying to expand my library of Indigenous fiction and non fiction. A person I follow on Hey Cafe has been listing books and this one caught my attention.

""One of the finest novels of the year." ( Vancouver Sun ) By the celebrated author of Canada Reads finalist Indian Horse , this is an unforgettable journey of a father and son, set in dramatic landscape of the BC Interior. For male and female readers equally, for readers of Joseph Boyden, Cormac McCarthy, Thomas King, Russell Banks and general literary fiction.

Franklin Starlight is called to visit his father, Eldon. He's sixteen years old and has had the most fleeting of relationships with the man. The rare moments they've shared haunt and trouble Frank, but he answers the call, a son's duty to a father. What ensues is a journey through the rugged and beautiful backcountry, and a journey into the past, as the two men push forward to Eldon's end. From a poverty-stricken childhood, to the Korean War, and later the derelict houses of mill towns, Eldon relates both the desolate moments of his life and a time of redemption and love, and in doing so offers Frank a history he has never known, the father he has never had, and a connection to himself he never expected.

     A novel about love, friendship, courage, and the idea that the land has within it powers of healing, Medicine Walk reveals the ultimate goodness of its characters and offers a deeply moving and redemptive conclusion. Wagamese's writing soars and his insight and compassion are matched by his gift of communicating these to the reader."

7. Slow Gods by Claire North (Sci Fi / 2025). Another of the books nominated for the Le Guin award.

"My name is Mawukana na-Vdnaze, and I am a very poor copy of myself.

Slow Gods is the galaxy-spanning tale ​of one man's impossible life charted against the fate of humanity amongst the stars—a powerfully imaginative space opera from multi-award-winning author Claire North. 

In telling my story, there are certain things I should perhaps lie about. I should make myself a hero. Pretend I was not used by strangers and gods, did not leave people behind.
 
Here is one out there in deep space, in the pilot's chair, I died. And then, I was reborn. I became something not quite human, something that could speak to the infinite dark. And I vowed to become the scourge of the world that wronged me. 

This is the story of the supernova event that burned planets and felled civilizations. This is also the story of the many lives I've lived since I died for the first time.  
 
Are you listening?"

I have two other award nominees on order, plus a few others. They'll be added in a future BLog. Enjoy your weekend. Read a good book.