Book Review: Brit Happens (memoir) by James Mullinger, published by Goose Lane Editions

England-born comedian James Mullinger fell in love with a Canadian and then he fell in love with Canada. 

This engaging memoir is packed with helpful tips for new stand-up comedians and fascinating information about the east coast of North America.

Brit Happens

James Mullinger

Goose Lane Editions

2022

247 pages

I received my copy from the author, but you can get yours here...

James Mullinger was a success in London, England. However, he was maintaining that success at the expense of his relationship with his family. Something had to change. Visits to his wife's home province persuaded him that New Brunswick might provide a solution.

The opening chapter of Brit Happens begins with James Mullinger moving his young family to New Brunswick. Though he was happy with the move it did present a new problem. How was he going to feed his family as a stand-up comedian in a comedy wasteland? Solving this problem took determination and drive. Read Brit Happens to see how Mullinger pulls it off. And once you do I'm sure you'll agree that London's loss was New Brunswick, was Canada's gain. 

Comedian James Mullinger traces his journey from U.K. to New Brunswick

James Mullinger says Brit Happens--an interview with Atlantic Books

This Summer--July and August--on this blog...

Okay, so here's the plan. I know how much you enjoy reading my longer stories and boy do I have a story for you. Inspired by the writing life, Callie is an eight-chapter story that I'll share every Sunday. Callie is about finding yourself when you think all is lost. I'm looking forward to sharing this story with you.

 One woman's amazing journey to becoming who she was meant to be.

Callie

photo by ldyck

Chapter one will be published on Sunday, July 10th

I Have a Question...

In Brit Happens, James Mullinger describes three classifications of people. Atlantic

Book Review: The Running Trees (short story collection) by Amber McMillan published by Goose Lane Editions

 The Running Trees is the thinking person's short story collection. 

The Running Trees

Amber McMillan

Published by Goose Lane Editions

2021

Buy this book from an Independent Bookstore in

Canada

United States 

I received my copy of The Running Trees from the publisher

The 13 stories in The Running Trees will get you thinking not only about the topics covered--such as creative license and sibling relations and the nature of truth and...--but also about the nature of story. By that I mean, what the story looks like, how it is written, and what it contains. For example, "The Dinner Party" is the first story in the collection and it is one of the shortest--at seven pages and a few lines. I enjoyed reading this story and I wanted more. So I began to argue with myself. It has a beginning, middle, but does it end? I don't think it-- Yes, it does because the story isn't about what I think it's about.

And... "Photo Happiness", at first, frustrated me because there's no speaker attribution and I really wanted to know who was speaking. Once again I took myself in hand and gave myself time to think. With a calm mind, I was able to see how very clever this treatment was. 

See this book makes you think. Give yourself time to digest what you read. In fact, it might be fun to read this book with a friend. Or... Better yet, it would make a very engaging book club read. And... And I think The Running Trees would make a fantastic audiobook. Have a read and tell me what you think. 

Amber McMillan Answers 

Our Atlantic Book Awards

Nominee Proust Questionaire

May on this Blog...

International Short Story Month

Sunday, May 22

Book Review

The Spoon Stealer by Lesley Crewe

published by Vagrant Press

(an imprint of Nimbus Publishing)

Are you missing Author Reading Wednesday?

Well...

Based on the popularity of Not a Mother but... I've decided to bring it back. So...

Wednesday, May 18

Author Reading

Not a Mother but...

Hurray! I was able to make this recording. I hope you enjoy listening.

Sunday, May 29

Short Story

My Song by Leanne Dyck

They say that you shouldn't meet your heroes. This story offers an explanation of why you shouldn't.

Cool literary things I found online...

Book Review: My Daughter Rehtaeh Parsons by Glen Canning with Susan McClelland (non-fiction)

I'm very impressed by the courage and strength it took to write this book. I know whatever I write in my review will fall short of what this book deserves. Still, I have to try...

Buy this book

My Daughter: Rehtaeh Parsons

Glen Canning (blog)

with Susan McClelland

Published by Goose Lane Editions

Published in 2021

I've had a blog since 2005. I know first-hand that cyberspace can be a force for good or ill. I believe that it is up to us--all of us--to ensure that good wins. So when I read a tweet about this newly released book I knew I wanted to read it and help review it. So I contacted Goose Lane Editions and they supplied me with a copy.

My Daugther Rehtaeh Parsons is a story about what can happen when cyberspace is used to destroy a life. We all can be victimized but it is the most vulnerable., the children, who are at the greatest risk.

Glen Canning shares a heart-wrenching account of how his daughter "Rae" was victimized, how a system failed her, and how cyberspace perpetuated her victimization.

Glen writes in the Introduction to the book...

'This book is not about sexual assault...

  'Nor is this book entirely about the institutional failures that let Rae down...

   'It is, more than anything else, about a culture that has normalized and accepted gender violence; a culture in which even women and girls play a role in perpetuating and normalizing that violence...

This book is about Rae, but it's also about how all of us, hopefully, may begin putting ourselves back together.' (p. 10-11)

What we need to do is follow Glen's lead. He could have become a vigilante and set out to make the quilty pay. He could have, but instead, he became a healer. The quest he has begun is to attempt to heal the world or as he writes put us back together. He needs, he deserves our support.

  

 On this blog in October

Sunday, October 3

Guest Post

Brian Van Norman

(Science Fiction Author)

Wednesday, October 6

Podcast Author Reading

Without (short story) by Leanne Dyck

Sunday, October 10

Book Review

The Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy

by Douglas Adams

(Science Fiction, Humour)

Wednesday, October 13

Podcast Author Reading

Basket Weaving (short story) by Leanne Dyck

Sunday, October 17

Short Story

Dream (romance) by Leanne Dyck

Wednesday, October 20

Podcast Author Reading

Jaron Cardw, Author (short story) by Leanne Dyck

Sunday, October 24

Book Review

The Almost Wife (thriller)

by Gail Anderson-Dargatz

Wednesday, October 27

Podcast Author Reading

My Knitting Haven (short story) by Leanne Dyck

Sunday, October 31

Short Story

Eyes by Leanne Dyck