Fans of Robert Caro rejoiced when we learned that Caro, author of nonfiction histories, was writing a book about his writing process. When the book was published, I’m sure I wasn’t the only one surprised by its brevity. At a slim 207 pages, Working: Researching, Interviewing, Writing is the equivalent
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wmtc: what i’m reading: working by robert caro
Fans of Robert Caro rejoiced when we learned that Caro, author of nonfiction histories, was writing a book about his writing process. When the book was published, I’m sure I wasn’t the only one surprised by its brevity. At a slim 207 pages, Working: Researching, Interviewing, Writing is the equivalent
Continue readingwmtc: what i’m reading: syria’s secret library: reading and redemption in a town under siege
Syria’s Secret Library: Reading and Redemption in a Town Under Siege is a tribute to the power of books to heal, to offer refuge, and to nourish communities. It’s also a tribute to the spirit of resistance to tyranny and oppression. In 2013, the Syrian town of Daraya was targeted
Continue readingwmtc: what i’m reading: syria’s secret library: reading and redemption in a town under siege
Syria’s Secret Library: Reading and Redemption in a Town Under Siege is a tribute to the power of books to heal, to offer refuge, and to nourish communities. It’s also a tribute to the spirit of resistance to tyranny and oppression. In 2013, the Syrian town of Daraya was targeted
Continue readingwmtc: what i’m reading: the instant pot bible
I’ve never reviewed a cookbook before, but then I’ve never been this enthusiastic about a cookbook before: The Instant Pot Bible by Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough. Why I love this book Before I bury the lede with a lot of explanation, I’ll tell you why I find The Instant
Continue readingwmtc: what i’m reading: the instant pot bible
I’ve never reviewed a cookbook before, but then I’ve never been this enthusiastic about a cookbook before: The Instant Pot Bible by Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough. Why I love this book Before I bury the lede with a lot of explanation, I’ll tell you why I find The Instant
Continue readingwmtc: what i’m reading: ali: a life by jonathan eig
Ali: A Life is an extraordinary book about an extraordinary person. It’s an epic page-turner at more than 500 pages. This is simply a fascinating book about an utterly fascinating person. If Muhammad Ali hadn’t existed, you couldn’t make him up. No fiction character on this scale would be believable.
Continue readingwmtc: what i’m reading: ali: a life by jonathan eig
Ali: A Life is an extraordinary book about an extraordinary person. It’s an epic page-turner at more than 500 pages. This is simply a fascinating book about an utterly fascinating person. If Muhammad Ali hadn’t existed, you couldn’t make him up. No fiction character on this scale would be believable. It
Continue readingwmtc: toni morrison on good and evil in literature
Graphic viaStudents Exploring Inequality in Canada For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated by stories of forgiveness and redemption. I believe endlessly in the human capacity for redemption, and that belief that has only been strengthened as I’ve seen more of the world. The stories that
Continue readingwmtc: toni morrison on good and evil in literature
Graphic viaStudents Exploring Inequality in Canada For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated by stories of forgiveness and redemption. I believe endlessly in the human capacity for redemption, and that belief that has only been strengthened as I’ve seen more of the world. The stories that
Continue readingwmtc: what i’m reading: the marrow thieves, the glass beads
Cherie Dimaline’s The Marrow Thieves, winner of multiple Canadian awards, is a brilliant book — and a frightening one. Set in a future Canada after climate change has devastated the planet, Indigenous people are being hunted. The government believes Indigenous people are useful for survival. “Recruiters” kidnap them, and force
Continue readingwmtc: what i’m reading: the marrow thieves, the glass beads
Cherie Dimaline’s The Marrow Thieves, winner of multiple Canadian awards, is a brilliant book — and a frightening one. Set in a future Canada after climate change has devastated the planet, Indigenous people are being hunted. The government believes Indigenous people are useful for survival. “Recruiters” kidnap them, and force
Continue readingwmtc: what i’m reading: the birth of the pill by jonathan eig
The Birth of the Pill: How Four Crusaders Reinvented Sex and Launched a Revolution by Jonathan Eig was a fascinating and very readable look at how oral contraceptives — otherwise known as The Pill — came to be. The Pill changed the world. It was the first contraception that was
Continue readingwmtc: what i’m reading: the nickel boys by colson whitehead
By now wmtc readers, at least those who read my “what i’m reading” posts, know that Colson Whitehead is one of my favourite authors. I was so happy that he achieved breakthrough success with The Underground Railroad, winning both the Pulitzer Prize for fiction and the National Book Award. I’ve
Continue readingwmtc: toni morrison, rest in power
I was so shocked and saddened to learn of Toni Morrison’s death. I’ve been reading her work since a university creative writing teacher recommended The Bluest Eye in 1979. I’ve read all her novels. Although Beloved is her masterpiece, most of her work is phenomenal, and every book is worth
Continue readingwmtc: wallander, roddy doyle, one of us is lying: what i’m reading between massive biographies
These biographies are taking me a very long time to read. The list of books I want to read continues to grow, as always, and it feels wrong to use so much time on just one title. I wish I read faster. I wish I spent more time reading. I
Continue readingwmtc: what i’m reading: frederick douglass, prophet of freedom
My biography reading continues: I finally finished Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom by the historian and Douglass scholar David Blight. It is a monumental work, not an easy read, but extremely enlightening and very satisfying. The book is notable for Blight’s refusal to ignore or sugar-coat Douglass’ flaws. Douglass was a
Continue readingwmtc: july 1: canada day and beyond
Happy Canada Day from the traditional and unceded territory of the Kwakiutl people, whose historical ties to this land date back from time immemorial and continue to this day. Many Kwakiutl (pronounced kwa-gi-uth) people have welcomed me to my new home and I am grateful to walk the path of
Continue readingwmtc: five things you probably don’t know about frederick douglass (and u.s. history)
Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom, David W. Blight’s monumental biography of that greatest of Americans, is a long, challenging, and utterly fascinating read. After waiting for months to borrow it from the library, I ended up returning the library copy and buying it from Amazon. The book is filled with
Continue readingwmtc: what i’m reading: jackie robinson: a biography
I finished reading this fine biography a while ago, but I’ve been having trouble writing about it. It was very good. If some parts were a bit too detailed for me (which is bound to happen if a biography is comprehensive), parts were thrilling, fascinating, sad, and very moving. There
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