Monthly Archives: January 2014

Ozeki, Ruth. A Tale for the Time Being. Penguin Canada paper Toronto. 2013. F; 1/14. Remarkable book. I usually fall for a smooth sophisticated show, a la Cunningham and Ondaatje, and I’m suspicious right away when I get the feeling somebody is … Continue reading →

January 2014. This was our second trip to this little Denman Street competitor, the first about 18 months ago when we found it noisy, somehow harsh in its decor, and serving no-hell French bistro food. This was disappointing because it is … Continue reading →

Johnson, Adam. The Orphan Master’s Son. Random House paper New York. 2012. F; 1/14. This complex masterpiece prompted a sentiment I hadn’t experienced since reading Wallace’s Infinite Jest: feeling happily out of my depth. It’s an apparently effortless exploration of reality and illusion, … Continue reading →

Thuy, Kim. Ru. English translation Vintage Toronto by Sheila Fischman 2012; original (French) Editions Libre Expression 2009. F; 12/13. This is a strange and for me culturally dissonant story resembling a random collection of objects some of which shine brightly, but many of … Continue reading →

January 2014 Most Vancouverites are aware of the cream-and-brick-coloured building with whimsical black accents this restaurant is located in. It’s an early-20th-century retail and residential structure with prominent bay windows forming turrets at the corners. The café space and restaurant … Continue reading →