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Cracking the Spine

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December 18, 2018

Women Talking - Miriam Toews

December 18, 2018/ Donna Sherwood
Women Talking - Miriam Toews

Drama

Rating: 8.5/10

It might be believed that a group of Mennonite women don’t have much to talk about. That would be wrong. They are the keepers of the secrets in their close knit and closed off communities.

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December 18, 2018/ Donna Sherwood/
Reviews
December 13, 2018

Furyborn - Claire Legrand

December 13, 2018/ Donna Sherwood
Furyborn - Claire Legrand

Fantasy/Adventure

Rating: 8.5/10

A literary mashup of Hunger Games, Harry Potter and Red Rising, the author creates two badass leads (no damsels in distress here!) that ensure the reader is thoroughly captivated by the story.

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December 13, 2018/ Donna Sherwood/
Reviews
December 11, 2018

Foe - Ian Reid

December 11, 2018/ Donna Sherwood
Foe - Ian Reid

Mystery/Thriller

Rating: 7/10

If this story had a message to deliver, it might be that habitual and comfortable activity is a kind of prison, which would mean all kinds of trouble for me!

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December 11, 2018/ Donna Sherwood/
Reviews
December 06, 2018

Crib Notes - Coming Soon To A Theatre Near You!

December 06, 2018/ Donna Sherwood

Crib Notes - Coming Soon To A Theatre Near You!

Some quick reviews on books that are being made into movies, all great novels worth a look before they air!

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December 06, 2018/ Donna Sherwood/
Reviews
December 04, 2018

Katerina - James Frey

December 04, 2018/ Donna Sherwood
Katerina - James Frey

Drama (Melo)

Rating: 4/10

It’s said that when you read, sometimes it’s for the story, sometimes for the words, and if you are lucky you will get both. No luck here, this one is only good for the words.

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December 04, 2018/ Donna Sherwood/
Reviews
November 29, 2018

Rick Mercer Final Report - Rick Mercer

November 29, 2018/ Donna Sherwood
Rick Mercer Final Report - Rick Mercer

Comedy/Bio

Rating: 8.5/10

While in rant mode we get glimpses of the sharp wit of John Oliver and Trevor Noah, in almost every other aspect we get what can only be described as uniquely Canadian humour.

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November 29, 2018/ Donna Sherwood/
Reviews
November 27, 2018

Nine Perfect Strangers - Liane Moriarty

November 27, 2018/ Donna Sherwood
Nine Perfect Strangers - Liane Moriarty

Mystery

Rating: 6/10

Full disclosure, I am not a big fan of Liane Moriarty’s writing. I was apparently in some sort of haze post the pleasure of watching the television adaptation of Big Little Lies and I forgot that rather crucial fact.

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November 27, 2018/ Donna Sherwood/
Reviews
November 22, 2018

Crib Notes - Coming Soon To A Home Theatre Near You!

November 22, 2018/ Donna Sherwood

Crib Notes - Coming Soon To A Home Theatre Near You!

Some quick reviews on books that are being made into Television series, all great novels worth a look before they air!

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November 22, 2018/ Donna Sherwood/
Reviews
November 19, 2018

Vox - Christina Dalcher

November 19, 2018/ Donna Sherwood
Vox - Christina Dalcher

Thriller (Dystopian)

Rating: 8.5/10

What if you had no right to use your voice to its full potential? If you could only speak 100 words a day? Think about that, you wouldn't even be able to read this review aloud.

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November 19, 2018/ Donna Sherwood/
Reviews
November 15, 2018

Crazy English - Richard Lederer

November 15, 2018/ Donna Sherwood
Crazy English - Richard Lederer

Language

Rating: 8/10

A fun, fascinating foray into the foibles of the English language. Let me share just a taste of the wit and wisdom included here…

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November 15, 2018/ Donna Sherwood/
Reviews
November 13, 2018

Transcription - Kate Atkinson

November 13, 2018/ Donna Sherwood
Transcription - Kate Atkinson

Historical Drama

Rating: 7/10

As our heroine plays at being other people in this wartime tale of espionage, she’s at risk of her own personality becoming the fictitious one. 

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November 13, 2018/ Donna Sherwood/
Reviews
November 08, 2018

Something In The Water - Catherine Steadman

November 08, 2018/ Donna Sherwood
Something In The Water - Catherine Steadman

Mystery

Rating: 7/10

When you reflect back on the opening sequence upon finishing this novel you will be left with a whole new understanding of “the honeymoon is over.” 

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November 08, 2018/ Donna Sherwood/
Reviews
November 05, 2018

Crib Notes - Young Readers 8-12

November 05, 2018/ Donna Sherwood

Crib Notes - Young Readers 8-12

Some quick reviews on recent books that fall into the above reader profile. Hope you find something for you and the kiddies to enjoy!

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November 05, 2018/ Donna Sherwood/
Reviews
November 01, 2018

Elevation - Stephen King

November 01, 2018/ Donna Sherwood
Elevation - Stephen King

Drama

Rating: 9/10

If on all hallows eve you are like me; single, childless and a huge Stephen King fan, it’s possible you had an expectation of a scary tale when sitting down to read the book he dropped the day before. Well you would have found yourself both tricked and treated.

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November 01, 2018/ Donna Sherwood/
Reviews
October 30, 2018

Ginny Moon - Benjamin Ludwig

October 30, 2018/ Donna Sherwood
Ginny Moon - Benjamin Ludwig

Drama

Rating: 8/10

This sweet, lovely novel is not always easy to read as Ginny’s distress at an often-confounding world for her, with adults that she can’t make sense of, is palpable.

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October 30, 2018/ Donna Sherwood/
Reviews
October 29, 2018

Unwanted Guest - Shari Lapena

October 29, 2018/ Donna Sherwood
Unwanted Guest - Shari Lapena

Mystery

Rating: 8/10

This is one of those books that is complete and utter brain candy. Swift and fun to read and no storage space required in your gray matter.

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October 29, 2018/ Donna Sherwood/
Reviews
October 26, 2018

The Marsh Kings Daughter - Karen Dionne

October 26, 2018/ Donna Sherwood
The Marsh Kings Daughter - Karen Dionne

Drama/Thriller

Rating: 7/10

What lingers here are the degrees of evil, if it’s all you know are you to be blamed for accepting it as the norm? For embracing it as a kind of love?

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October 26, 2018/ Donna Sherwood/
Reviews
October 25, 2018

A Spark Of Light - Jodi Picoult

October 25, 2018/ Donna Sherwood
A Spark Of Light - Jodi Picoult

Drama

Rating: 7.5/10

“Revenge, in theory, throbbed with adrenaline and was clean with conviction. In reality, it was rushing into a house on fire, and forgetting to map out your exit.”

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October 25, 2018/ Donna Sherwood/
Reviews
October 19, 2018

The Nest - Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeny

October 19, 2018/ Donna Sherwood
The Nest - Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeny

Drama (Family)

Rating: 7/10

Or as I like to think of it, dysfunction junction! The characters are flawed, crazed, neurotic and heroic.

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October 19, 2018/ Donna Sherwood/
Reviews
October 18, 2018

Dark Matter - Blake Crouch

October 18, 2018/ Donna Sherwood
Dark Matter - Blake Crouch

Thriller/Sci-Fi

Rating: 7.5/10

Mind bending fun! Like being super stoned and highly functional at the same time.

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October 18, 2018/ Donna Sherwood/
Reviews
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