Monthly Archives: December 2012

A Heartbreaking and Powerful Graphic Memoir: A Review of Sarah Leavitt’s Tangles: A Story about Alzheimer’s, My Mother, and Me

Posted on December 31, 2012 by CaseytheCanadianLesbrarian

Vancouver-based lesbian cartoonist, writer, and editor Sarah Leavitt’s graphic memoir Tangles: A Story about Alzheimer’s, My Mother, and Me is not for the faint of heart.  It’s a powerful work, to be sure, but this power comes at quite a … Continue reading →

Posted in Canadian, Graphic, Jewish, Lesbian, Non-Fiction, Queer, Vancouver | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

A Darkly Funny and Inspiring Novel Despite Itself: A Review of Mariko Tamaki’s (You) Set Me on Fire

Posted on December 18, 2012 by CaseytheCanadianLesbrarian

So here’s the short version of this review: I loved queer Toronto-based author Mariko Tamaki’s latest book, (You) Set Me on Fire.  If you’re not convinced by the awesome title alone that this young adult novel is worth checking out, … Continue reading →

Posted in Asian, Bisexual, Canadian, Coming-of-age, Fiction, Lesbian, Mariko Tamaki, Queer, Young Adult | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

A Life-Affirming, Earnest Book for Young Adults: A Review of Cheryl Rainfield’s novel Parallel Visions

Posted on December 11, 2012 by CaseytheCanadianLesbrarian

Toronto-based young adult writer Cheryl Rainfield’s recently released teen novel Parallel Visions is a simply written, slim book, but it’s hard-hitting nevertheless.  Within the first few pages, for example, the issue of teen LGBTQ suicide comes up.  The novel not … Continue reading →

Posted in Canadian, Fantasy, Fiction, Lesbian, Queer, Toronto, Young Adult | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Unrepentant, Brave, and Moving: A Review of Rae Spoon’s First Spring Grass Fire

Posted on December 4, 2012 by CaseytheCanadianLesbrarian

For a slim book under 150 pages, transgender musician and now writer Rae Spoon’s first book First Spring Grass Fire sure packs a wicked punch.  First Spring Grass Fire follows the adventures of Rae, a gender-non-normative kid growing up in … Continue reading →

Posted in Canadian, Coming-of-age, Fiction, Halifax, Ivan E. Coyote, Non-Fiction, Queer, Short Stories, Trans Masculine, Transgender, Young Adult | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

“Poetry is the muscle, the winged dream of liberation”: A Review of the Queer Issue of Poetry is Dead

Posted on December 3, 2012 by CaseytheCanadianLesbrarian

I knew as soon as I read Alex Leslie’s smart, heartfelt introduction to the queer issue of Poetry is Dead–a poetry journal based out of Vancouver–that I was going to love what was between its pages.  She writes, for example, … Continue reading →

Posted in Amber Dawn, Canadian, Gay, Graphic, Lesbian, Poetry, Postcolonial, Queer, Sex Work, South Asian, Toronto, Trans Feminine, Vancouver | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments