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Reviews: Four new historical novels explore Gothic Shanghai, the Red Scare, apartheid and more
1+ mon, 3+ day ago (695+ words) Authors reviewed include Giles Blunt, Robert Hough, Caroline Lea and Alyson Richman." Our fiction roundup looks at books set in China, South Africa, Hollywood and Finland. HarperAvenue, 336 pages, $25.99 In 1911 Shanghai, Lisan Liu, an orphan raised by a bachelor guardian from…...
Booker Prize-winner George Saunders examines life and death in a brilliant new novel
2+ mon, 3+ day ago (810+ words) His brief fable "Vigil" hints at "Citizen Kane" and "A Christmas Carol." George Saunders, author of the Booker Prize-winning "Lincoln in the Bardo," returns with "Vigil," a short novel about life and death. "Vigil," the brilliant and confounding new novel…...
Writers’ Trust sets up award for low-profile book workers: non-fiction editors
2+ mon, 6+ day ago (250+ words) TORONTO - The Writers" Trust of Canada is introducing a $25,000 award for book editors, offering flowers to a group generally inclined to stay out of the spotlight, says sponsor Nancy Flight. The organization says the prize, which will go to non-fiction…...
Toronto Star bestsellers: Rachel Reid scores again and a Netflix announcement boosts ‘The God of the Woods’
2+ mon, 3+ week ago (910+ words) Greta Podleski tops the cooking bestseller list again." Rachel Reid's "Heated Rivalry" now tops the Toronto Star's original fiction bestsellers while five of her queer hockey romances are on the Canadian fiction list. If there were any doubt of the…...
Reading habits: Toronto’s Kate Cayley on Alice Munro’s perfect ending and a dead misogynist worth loving
4+ mon, 1+ week ago (907+ words) The acclaimed poet, playwright and novelist answers our author questionnaire. "Property" author Kate Cayley won a Trillium Book Award for "How You Were Born." "Property" by Kate Cayley, Coach House, 232 pages, $24.95. Ottawa-born writer Kate Cayley has become well-known across three…...
Souvankham Thammavongsa wins the 2025 Giller Prize for ‘Pick a Colour,’ joining small club of two-time winners
4+ mon, 2+ week ago (876+ words) The Canadian author received the $100,000 award at a downtown Toronto event hosted by Rick Mercer." Souvankham Thammavongsa accepts her second Giller Prize for her novel "Pick a Colour." Souvankham Thammavongsa has won the 2025 Giller Prize for her novel "Pick a…...
Giller Prize for best work of Canadian fiction to be handed out in Toronto tonight
4+ mon, 2+ week ago (187+ words) Elana Rabinovitch the Executive Director of Giller Prize stands on stage during the awards ceremony in Toronto, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024." TORONTO - Canadian book awards season will reach its apex tonight when the Giller Prize is set to be handed out. Five…...
Thomas Pynchon returns at age 88 with madcap mystery ‘Shadow Ticket’
5+ mon, 2+ week ago (219+ words) The novel comes hot on the heels of Paul Thomas Anderson's movie "One Battle After Another," which was inspired by the author's 1990 book, "Vineland." The camera-shy author Thomas Pynchon is seen here in 1955. "Shadow Ticket," by Thomas Pynchon, Penguin, 304 pages,…...
Richard Warnica: I spoke with the only writer alive who actually makes sense anymore
5+ mon, 3+ week ago (776+ words) Patricia Lockwood's latest book is "Will There Ever Be Another You" Patricia Lockwood is the only writer who managed to accurately capture the absurdity of a Trump rally Patricia Lockwood: I'm in a cavernous hotel room. It's actually very nice,…...
The Giller Prize longlist is here. André Alexis, Emma Donoghue and 14 authors are up for the $100k prize
6+ mon, 2+ week ago (374+ words) The winner will be revealed at a Nov. 17 ceremony, following a shortlist announcement on Oct. 6. Andr" Alexis won the prestigious Giller Prize in 2015 for his novel "Fifteen Dogs." A decade later, he's vying the award once again with his short…...