Book Review: Girlfriend on Mars by Deborah Willis (sci fi, romance, literary fiction)

Thirty-one years old and newly transplanted from Thunder Bay, Ontario to Vancouver, BC, Amber Kivinen and Kevin Watkins are in a fourteen-year committed relationship--together forever. Until... Without Kevin's knowledge, Amber applies to enter a contest to travel to Mars. Amber is selected for the contest, and Kevin stays home to grieve her loss.

Girlfriend on Mars is about space, reality TV, climate change anxiety, infidelity, grow ops, travel...

Girlfriend on Mars

Deborah Willis

Hamish Hamilton

an imprint of Penguin Canada

a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited

2023

356 pages

longlisted for the Scotiabank Giller

Science Fiction, Romance, Literary Fiction

Amber and Kevin are polar opposites. Amber is an aggressive go-getter who lives life to the fullest. Kevin is a deep-thinking, deep-feeling observer of life. Raised by an ailing single mother, Kevin was taught from a young age to fear life and cling to one person. At first, this person was his mom and then Amber. Who will he cling to now that she's gone? 

Girlfriend on Mars is told in altering chapters of first and second person. The first-person chapters are narrated by Kevin. In the second-person chapters, we observe Amber--much as Kevin would. At one point, Kevin tells us, "I realize that Amber is a planet, and I'm a moon to her orbit." I understand this to mean that he doesn't think that he's as important as Amber and I disagree. Girlfriend on Mars is a balanced examination of both sides of a relationship.

The short chapters help to make this book enjoyable--especially for those of us with reading challenges.

If you enjoy reading Girlfriend on Mars (which (I hope) I'm sure you will), you may also enjoy reading An Ocean of Minutes by Thea Lim.

"Fog" by ldyck

It all starts next Sunday...

Book Review: The Maid (cozy mystery) by Nita Prose

 While cleaning rooms at a five-star hotel, Molly Gray finds a nasty, famous, old, rich guy dead in his bed. Who killed him? Why? How is Molly involved?

The Maid

Nita Prose

Viking Canada

an imprint of Penguin Canada

a division of Penguin Random House Canada Ltd.

2022

285 pages

Buy this book from an Independent Bookstore in

Canada

United States 

I bought Maid by Nita Prose from one of my favourite bookstores

--Bolen Books in Hillside Mall on Vancouver Island, BC

I was compelled to keep reading because of Molly. Twenty-five-year-old, neurodivergent Molly is an endearing, dynamic character who grows through the course of the story.

Nine months ago, Molly's seventy-five-year-old grandmother died. Gran was Molly's roommate, her only family, her only friend. Gran's death left Molly truly alone. Alone with only fond memories and Gran's inspirational sayings for comfort. 

I kept reading because I wanted to know--. I needed to know, will what Gran left behind be enough to sustain Molly through the cyclone that will become her life?

And I was rewarded. Oh, how I was rewarded. 

Thank you, Nita Prose. I hope you write again really soon.

And the best news, plans are in the works to adapt The Maid for the screen.

Read The Maid. After the years we've weathered through you deserve it.

Canadian Independent Bookstore Day

Saturday, April 30

is the annual day when readers, writers, illustrators, publishers, and other industry supporters come together to celebrate indie bookstores across Canada. By joining the celebration, you are advocating for independent businesses, supporting a flourishing bookselling community, and investing in Canadian culture.

-Canadian Independent Bookseller Association

May on this Blog...

Canadian Children's

Book Week

Sunday, May 1 to Saturday, May 7

Sunday, May 1

Short Story

Finding Su-Le by Leanne Dyck (a story for the young at heart)

Featuring an illustration by Debbie Ridpath Ohi

about two friends who find a...a...something in an old garage

Sunday, May 8

Short Story

Mothering by Leanne Dyck

 Dreams about having a newly published book inspired this short story.

Sunday, May 15

Book Review

The Running Trees by Amber McMillan (short story collection)

Published by Goose Lane Editions

In celebration of short story month

International Short Story Month

Sunday, May 22

Book Review

The Spoon Stealer by Lesley Crewe

published by Vagrant Press

(an imprint of Nimbus Publishing)

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.

Book Review: Bunny by Mona Awad

This book's message:  How you feel about me is none of my business. How I feel when I'm around you is.

Published by Viking

an imprint of Penguin Random House

Published in 2019

Buy this Book

Samantha Heather Mackey is enrolled in post-graduate studies in creative writing at Warren University in New England. An important component of the program is Workshop--an opportunity to give and receive feedback about your work with your peers. Samatha's peers are the Bunnies--four closely bonded women.

Of Workshop, Samantha says, 'Just me and them in a room with no visible escape routes for two hours and twenty minutes. Every week for thirteen weeks.' (p. 10)

Samantha says that the Bunnies are completely 'immune to the disdain of their fellow graduate student. Me. Samantha Heather Mackey. Who is not a Bunny. Who will never be a Bunny.' (p. 4)
And I think she has no desire to be a member of that group of friends. But when Samantha  receives an invitation from the Bunnies, she feels 'a weird and shameful swelling in [her] heart.' (p. 10)

During each Workshop, the Bunnies gave each other way too sticky sweet praise but looked 'down at each story [Samantha] submitted like it was a baby that just gave them the finger.' (p. 24) As a result, Samantha stops writing... But that isn't the end of the story.

Mona Awad's writing is graphic...

'My throat is a red, pulsing fist in my neck.' (p. 190)

and poetic...

 'Being with you is like being in literature. I have no idea where you'll lead me next.' (p. 236)

and memorable... 


Bunny is a weird, twisted ride into truth. Truth about friendship true and friendship false; about finding your true self even though others may attempt to hide her from you; about how to nurture your art--and how not to; about... 

More...

Also by Mona Awad...

My book review of 13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl

"Bunny" Shows MFA Programs for the Dark Horror They Truly Are (a book review and interview with the author) by columnist Deirdre Coyle

Please join me next Sunday evening...

My first writers' group

Years ago, at a house party, I told a friend of my desire to develop my writing muscles. Her advice, form a writing group. Please read this short story to learn what happened next...

Book Review: Sea Prayer by Khaled Hosseini

A father and a son prepare to leave their homeland and cross the ocean to--what they hope will be--a safe new home.

Buy this book

I purchased my copy from Bolen Books

Illustrated by Dan Williams

Published by Viking

an imprint of Penguin Canada

a division of Penguin Random House Canada

Published in 2018

This narrative poem gives a voice to refugees. Hosseini writes of the love they have for their country, of the memories of better times. He writes of the love they have for their family and the desire for a better life. I'm overwhelmed by the sacrifice, by the courage, by the hope and I wonder what I would do. Could I be that brave? 

Because many of us are fortunate enough not to be in this situation, we may see refugees as other. Hosseini helps us to see their humanity. Look back in your family tree, you may be fortunate enough to be a descendant...

In the 1800s, my maternal Icelandic ancestors were squeezed onto a ship like cattle. Due to inclimate weather conditions, half of the populations had no choice but to leave. They could only take a few belongings. They had no idea what awaited when they docked. They hoped a new life, a new home. 

After reading this book... After researching your family genealogy... You may ask, how can I help?

4 Ways You Can Support Refugees

8 practical ways to help refugees

UNHCR Canada

The note on the dust jacket reads...

'Khaled Hosseini will donate author proceeds from this book to UNCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and to The Khaled Hosseini Foundation to help fund life-saving relief efforts to help refugees around the globe.'

Other recommended illustrated books   

photo by ldyck

August on this blog...

August 4:  guest post:  
Interview with author Ellen Schwartz

Ellen discusses establishing her career, what inspires her, and the importance of belonging to a writing group--like CWILL-BC.

August 11:  book review:  
Quintland Sisters by Shelley Wood

Shelley Wood uses the power of fiction to reveal the truth behind the seemingly fairy tale childhood of the Dionne quintuplets.

'the only book published in 2019 by a Canadian to hit the [best-seller] list' reports Publishers Weekly

August 18:  short story:  
The Invisible Woman 

Was this short story inspired by The Invisible Man (a novel by H.G. Wells)? Maybe...

August 25:  book review:  
The Princess Dolls by Ellen Schwartz

Set in 1942, two girls--one Jewish-Canadian and the other Japanese-Canadian--bond over their mutual admiration of Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret.

Book Review: The Pink Steering Wheel Chronicles: a love story by Laura Fahrenthold (memoir)

Laura Fahrenthold and her husband Mark Pittman were soulmates.

Mark Pittman the award-winning reporter whose flight to make the Federal Reserve more accountable to taxpayers led Bloomberg News to sue the central bank and win, died November 25, 2009 in Yonkers, New York. He was 52.

(p. 49)

How do you carry on when the glue that held your life together is gone? 

Mark's death leaves Laura directionless and overwhelmed. Then she meets the "Deli man" who tells her...

"A change of scenery is good for people, you know... It can make you remember who you are and help decide a new direction in life." (p. 92)

Laura puts her husband's ashes in a box, buys Harvey the RV and together with her teenage daughters, travels to parts of the United States and eastern Canada. To pay tribute to Mark's memory, they sprinkling Mark's ashes. But some of the places Laura chooses to sprinkle are unsettling, for example, on food she serves at a party.

This is what happens when you take your husband's ashes on the road. You meet the kindest of strangers, people who will forever hold an incredibly important place in your heart and family's history and who will never be forgotten.

They are the teachers. (p. 129 - 130) 

Grief is a long process and this book spans four years but Laura eventually is able to let Mark go.

[L]ove guides us even when we sometimes feel hopeless and lost. (p. 281)

Laura writes honestly and openly about the many varied shades of grief. She has the gift of being able to add humour to heart crunching scenes. 

Buy this book

I received my copy of this book from Penguin Random House Canada. 

Published by 

 Penguin Random House/Hatherleigh Press

Published in 2018

More...

Author Laura Fahrenthold interview on the Canadian Blog House

Follow Author Laura Fahrenthold on Facebook

Next Post...

Sunday, February 17 at approximately 5 PM PT

Answering Machine (short story) by Leanne Dyck

Book Review: We Are All Made of Molecules (YA) by Susin Neilsen

When their newly-single parents fall in love, Stewart (a nerd) and Ashley (the It Girl) are forced to move in together. Stewart seems to be wise beyond his years. Though he has few friends, he chooses them carefully. Ashley stumbles through life with one concern--herself: how she looks and what others think about her. In short, Stewart and Ashley are polar opposites. And yet, in this feel-good story, they learn that underneath it all we are fundamentally the same--we are all made of molecules. Nielsen's characters are well-developed, her plot well-crafted, and the ending satisfying.

Buy this book

photo by ldyck

Next Post:  Sunday, August 28th (at approximately 5 PM PST)

Lazy Bones (short story) Okay, so I know to the outsider we, writers may look like we're having way too much fun. We may even look like we're not working at all. But believe me, that isn't true. And in this short story I allow a peek behind the curtain.

photo by ldyck

Sharing my author journey...

For book lovers, late August to early fall is a time of eager