Book Review: Dual Citizens by Alix Ohlin Scotiabank Giller shortlisted book 2019

Does Lark's sister Robin inspire her or hamper her development?

Because their mother Marianne can't be tamed by motherhood, Lark must mother her sister. Because Robin is the captivating star, Lark is left in the shadows--the silent observer. Because Robin is wild, Lark is tame. The two sisters are forever linked--dual citizens in the world.

'If you juxtapose two images...no matter how different, the viewer will make meaning from the montage. The second image in the sequence will alter the meaning of the first... My sister next to me changed how I thought of myself.' (p. 260)

'the world found my sister as exceptional as I did, and myself as ordinary' (p. 83)

Buy this Book

Published by House of Anansi

Published in 2019

Scotiabank Giller prize finalist 

When I work-shopped my young adult novel, I was told to begin with the most compelling scene--it pulls the reader in. Dual Citizens begins this way and did pull me in. Like assembling a jigsaw puzzle, I read carefully waiting to slip the scene into where it fit in the story.

Except for the opening scene, Dual Citizens unfolds in chronological order beginning with Lark's birth to a Canadian mother and an American father. Lark narrates her life with Robin. Through school, through boyfriends, through finding their place in the world the sisters'--at times strained--relationship continues.

The book concludes with an epilogue. I'm a big fan of this additional chapter. It's like getting a peek into the characters lives after the story ends.

Interview with Author Alix Ohlin

Book Review:  Inside by Alix Ohlin

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April on this blog...

We'll celebrate Easter with a short story

Be Gentle
published on this blog on April 12th

We'll celebrate Poetry month with three lists

My Poetry Collection

a collection of poems that I wrote
Yeah? Me.
Why are you so surprised?
(Just playing. I know why.)

published on this blog on April 5th

Poetry Publishers--magazines

a list of magazines that publish poems

published on this blog on April 19th

Poetry Book Publishers

a list of publishers that publish poetry books

published on my blog on April 26th

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Guest Post: Cozies and Me by mystery author Benni Chisholm

I meet Benni Chisholm through the Crime Writers of Canada and it is my pleasure to introduce her to you today. Take it away, Benni...

COZIES AND ME

A cozy is a specific type of mystery novel. The term is not well known, so here is a simple definition—a cozy is a true Who-Dun-It mystery.

In Agatha Christie fashion, cozies give the reader a chance to match wits with the author. The reader and the protagonist—detective or amateur sleuth—make use of clues provided by the author to try and solve the puzzle. The solution comes when the red herrings are set aside and the real antagonist is unearthed.

Cozies avoid bad language, explicit sex, and hardcore violence. Good writing and proper grammar are the norm which makes a cozy easy to read and easy to understand. If violence or sadomasochism is part of the actual story, creepy things often occur off page.

Cozies contain Murder and Mayhem, but they also include a great deal about Family, Friendship, and Community.

The Me in the title of this article is Benni Chisholm, author of four cozies. The protagonist in my cozies is Philomela Nightingale. Her name is derived from a Greek myth in which two sisters commit a murder and are later turned by the gods into a nightingale and a swallow. My two sisters do not commit murder, in fact, Philomela helps solve them. A dubious psychic is a neighbour and two police officers appreciate Philomela’s keen observations and flashes of intuition.

So you see, the two sisters represent family. The neighbour epitomizes friendship. The police and other residents of the seaside town of Saltaire comprise community.

A narcissist, sociopath, or psychopath may dominate the action in a cozy, yet goodness prevails and justice is eventually served. Readers, after experiencing armchair fears and thrills, paradoxically finish each cozy with feelings of satisfied relief, optimistic hope, and perhaps even joy.

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