Being a member of a book club is an excellent excuse to escape everyday life where you have to deal with everything from toddler tantrums to tween drama time and teen tribulations. As a mom, I know this strategy first hand! As the host of both virtual and real life book clubs, I also know how important it is to mix things up and bring some variety to the book club table. A book club is the perfect opportunity to add some history, mystery, and romance to your reading list through historical fiction novels. Why not have your book club venture into this genre?
What is the one book to break barriers? That is the question host Wab Kinew posed for the 14th edition of CBC's Canada Reads aka Battle of the Books. This year Canada Reads is all about books that can change perspectives, challenge stereotypes, and illuminate issues.
Marriage is a union that promises a mental, physical, and spiritual connection for the couple hoping to live "happily ever after." This may be true in the beginning during the hormone-crazed honeymoon phase. Love is called a drug after all, but what happens after the flames of desire start to flicker? How do you rekindle that spark, fan the flames and keep the embers burning?
November 17th is World Prematurity Day. Author Lesley Donaldson-Reid has a story and her memoir to share in an effort to urge awareness about this cause and shine a light on the issues in the preemie community.
Have you been following the Scotiabank Giller Prize action this year? As a Can Lit fan, I eagerly await this list hoping to find some new gems to read, and I love to follow any contest that highlights and supports our Canadian literary talent! The list of 12 books on the Scotiabank Giller Prize Longlist was announced on September 17, 2014.
Pictured above is my mother and I in 2013 during our birthday celebration. Our birthdays are 4 days apart and we happen to have the same zodiac sign. The Taurus strong-willed nature isn’t the only thing my mother and I have in common. We also share an on-going concern for our breast health.
When my mother was 47, her doctor found a pea-sized lump in her breast during a routine baseline mammogram. Luckily, her cancer was found at an early stage and it was treated with a lumpectomy and radiation. Today, I am happy to say she has been a breast cancer survivor for 25 years.
The 2014 Scotiabank Giller Prize Longlist was announced along with some exciting news about improved prizes! Yes, you heard that right Canadian authors and Can Lit fans! The big winner will now receive a whopping $100,000, up from $50,000, and the remaining finalists will receive a not too shabby $10,000, up from $5,000, which basically means bigger bucks to help celebrate and encourage our stellar Canadian authors!
What does it take to love another person for the rest of your life? This is the question Marissa Stapley set out to explore in her novel, Mating for Life.
When I received an invite to attend The Art of Leadership for Women 2014 conference in Toronto on May 29th, I immediately went to the website to see the speaker lineup. To my delight, I discovered a wonderful list of six internationally renowned women and noted that a few of them have inspired me both personally and entrepreneurially over the years!
You know the old adage "mother knows best"? Well, in Elaine Lui’s world this couldn’t be more true. Elaine refers to her mother Judy as “ma” in person but this dynamo of a woman is better known as “The Squawking Chicken” in Lui’s circle of friends and fans.
Told in the voice of Catherine the Great, Eva Stachniak’s enthralling literary novel EMPRESS OF THE NIGHT intimately captures one of history’s most remarkable leaders as she reflects on her ascension to the throne, her rule over the world’s greatest power, and the sacrifices that made her the most feared and commanding woman of her time.
How can a family vacation go from idyllic to illicit all in the span of a single week? THE LEMON GROVE starts off with scenes of British couple Jenn and Greg enjoying their annual vacation spot on the island of Mallorca in Spain. Their relaxing respite is altered with the arrival of Jenn’s moody teenage step-daughter Emma and her beautiful new beau Nathan.
THE BEAR is written by Canadian author Claire Cameron. The novel is a work of fiction but the details surrounding a real bear attack helped to form the idea for the story. THE BEAR is told in the voice of five year old Anna and takes place in Algonquin Park, Ontario.
The secret to success. Isn't that what many of us want? We want the recipe, the formula, or the template to gain personal and professional success. Is it possible for a mom to attain career success after giving birth? Is there opportunity after maternity? According to Reva Seth and the over 500 women she interviewed the answer is yes! Read on to find out how you can win a copy of Reva Seth's The MomShift and join a Twitter chat with the special guest author.
Are you looking for great reading suggestions for 2014? I asked my social media friends to share the first book they planned to read this year. This post highlights 25 of the many Twitter responses. I will share a list of the Facebook comments in another blog post. I’m sure this eclectic list will inspire some trips to the bookstore or a few eReader feeding sessions! I received a new Kobo Arc 7HD from my hubby for Christmas and I’ve loaded a few of these suggestions already. Did you know you can "try before you buy" with Kobo? True story!
Do you have some hard to gift people on your holiday shopping list? Looking for a useful last minute hostess gift? I have the perfect solution for these gift-giving dilemmas! Why not consider coffee table books suited to your recipient's taste? Who doesn't appreciate a glossy book to peruse when one's in the mood? These gifts get bonus points for doing double duty as home decor.
