The Secret Scripture, by Sebastian Barry.

A powerful novel by an Irish writer. Set in the Donegal area of Ireland in a hamlet close to Sligo, it paints a marvelous picture of small-town life in the 50s and 60s while asking interesting fictional and philosophical questions, such as, "How do we know what really happened when we hear two or more accounts of the same events?" and "Can fictional narrators be trusted?" An intriguing study that goes beyond life into literature.

more...

I've been reading funny books, it seems, and books with a satiric edge. Oh, just looking for laughs to get me through the winter. And these are all Canadian writers!

more...

This week saw the release of a report from the OECD, Pathways to Success: How knowledge and skills at Age 15 shape future lives in Canada. Its most revealing observation is that there is no greater predictor of a child's future educational success than reading proficiency.

The Globe and Mail emphasizes that these results confirm the necessity of a basic education focused on foundational skills. They also bolster the egalitarian credentials of Canada's education system where learned traits such as reading overwhelm inherited factors such as parental income. So, all things being equal, read, read, read.

Holly McNally

As a psychiatrist and author, I sometimes wonder if I am better at buying books than actually finding the time to sit down and read them through to the end. When I do complete a book, I know it was clearly written and actually offered me a chance to change my perspective on the world, if not my life.

more...