The Miramichi Reader highlights noteworthy books and authors across Canada from coast to coast to coast. We invite you to peruse our site for in-depth Book Reviews, Author Interviews, Literary Criticism and Essays, posted weekly.

“…the reviews are thoughtful, thorough, and entertaining in this publication!”
– Hannah Brown, author of “Look After Her”


Booker 2023 reviews

Prophet Song by Paul Lynch

September 7, 2023 by Alison Manley and Clementine Oberst

Prophet Song by Paul Lynch

*Shortlisted!

Image is not available

Alison: "This is brilliant."
Clementine: "Should it be on the shortlist? I think so!"
(We may have a winner here, folks!)

STUDY FOR OBEDIENCE BY SARAH BERNSTEIN

September 3, 2023 by Michael Greenstein

STUDY FOR OBEDIENCE BY SARAH BERNSTEIN

*Shortlisted!

Image is not available

“Longlisted for the Booker Prize, Bernstein’s second novel deserves to be advanced to the shortlist.”

The Bee Sting

August 22, 2023 by Clementine Oberst

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray

*Shortlisted!

Image is not available

Clementine: "Should it make the shortlist? I think yes!"

Western Lane

August 16, 2023, by Clementine Oberst and Alison Manley

Western Lane by Chetna Maroo

*Shortlisted!

Image is not available

Clementine & Alison review this title from the 2023 Booker Longlist. "Should it make the shortlist? I’m honestly not sure! "

If I Survive You

August 18, 2023 by Alison Manley and Clementine Oberst

If I Survive You by Jonathan Escoffery

*Shortlisted!

Image is not available

Alison & Clementine review this 2023 longlisted title.
"This is an interesting choice for the Booker longlist, because it straddles the line between short stories and a novel, and the Booker is for novels. "

This Other Eden

August 26, 2023 by Alison Manley and Clementine Oberst

This Other Eden by Paul Harding

*Shortlisted!

Image is not available

Alison: “I wouldn’t be upset if it was on the shortlist, but again, I wasn’t blown away."
Clementine "Another one I’m borderline about. I think it’s an impressive novel, but I don’t have the sense that this is my winner."

In Ascension by Martin MacInnes

September 4, 2023 by Clementine Oberst

In Ascension by Martin MacInnes
Image is not available

“I thought this would be my personal winner. And I liked it! But I wasn’t completely blown away by it. ”

A Spell of Good Things

August 30, 2023, by Clementine & Alison

A Spell of Good Things by Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀
Image is not available

Clementine: "Should it make the shortlist? I think you know my answer is no!"
Alison: "I…wanted to like this book."

Pearl by Sian Hughes

September 2, 2023 by Alison & Clementine

PEARL BY SIÂN HUGHES
Image is not available

Clementine: "I read this one in a day; it’s a pleasant, bite-sized read, but not one that’s likely to stick with me."
Alison: "The beauty of the final pages of the novel did take my breath away!"

How to Build a Boat

August 27, 2023, by Michael Bryson

How to Build a Boat by Elaine Feeney
Image is not available

"Elaine Feeney’s second novel, the 2023 Booker Prize long-listed How to Build a Boat, is a tour de force."

The House of Doors

August 26, 2023 by Alison Manley

The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng
Image is not available

Alison: “I don’t think it was mind-blowing, but it was beautifully written, and I wouldn’t be upset to see it on the Booker shortlist."

Old God's Time

August 20, 2023 by Alison Manley and Clementine Oberst

Old God's Time by Sebastian Barry
Image is not available

Alison: “Starting off the 2023 Booker Prize list with a strong contender here.”
Clementine: "Should it be on the shortlist? I would be very disappointed to see it there!"

All the Little Bird-Hearts

September 18. 2023 by Alison Manley

All the Little Bird-Hearts by Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow
Image is not available

"The plot of this book is very, very thin - I mostly felt like I was waiting for the book to happen."

previous arrowprevious arrow
next arrownext arrow

Giller 2023 Reviews

Wait Softly Brother

September 17, 2023 by Michael Bryson

Wait Softly Brother by Kathryn Kuitenbrouwer
Image is not available

"Award-worthy for sure."

All the Colour in The World

September 12, 2023 by Laura Patterson and Christina Barber

All the Colour in The World By C.S. Richardson
Image is not available

"...an interesting yet beautifully poetic piece of writing."

AWAY FROM THE DEAD BY DAVID BERGEN

September 11, 2023 by Sarah Marie

AWAY FROM THE DEAD BY DAVID BERGEN
Image is not available

"Every sentence in this novel is a creation. David’s prose is understated, and his storytelling is larger than life."

STUDY FOR OBEDIENCE BY SARAH BERNSTEIN

September 6, 2023 by Michael Greenstein

STUDY FOR OBEDIENCE BY SARAH BERNSTEIN
Image is not available

"Obedience requires a listening to, and her ear is as finely tuned as her powers of observation."

WE HAVE NEVER LIVED ON EARTH: STORIES BY KASIA VAN SCHAIK

March 13, 2023 by Wanda Baxter

WE HAVE NEVER LIVED ON EARTH: STORIES BY KASIA VAN SCHAIK
Image is not available

"What makes We Have Never Lived On Earth stand out most, is how the collection of linked though disconnected stories feels as rewarding as a novel."

WE MEANT WELL BY ERUM SHAZIA HASAN

January 2, 2023 by Ian Colford

WE MEANT WELL BY ERUM SHAZIA HASAN
Image is not available

"We Meant Well, in the diverting manner of a whodunit, grips the reader from the first page."

BIRNAM WOOD BY ELEANOR CATTON

April 10, 2023 by Michael Greenstein

BIRNAM WOOD BY ELEANOR CATTON
Image is not available

"Eleanor Catton’s third novel, Birnam Wood, is a political and psychological cliff-hanger where characters do indeed fall of cliffs in a remote area of New Zealand. "

THE CLARION BY NINA DUNIC

July 31, 2023 by Sarah Marie

THE CLARION BY NINA DUNIC
Image is not available

"Beautiful and devastating."

THE DOUBLE LIFE OF BENSON YU BY KEVIN CHONG

April 8, 2023 by Laurie Burns

THE DOUBLE LIFE OF BENSON YU BY KEVIN CHONG
Image is not available

"Chong is a master weaver of fiction."

THE ROOFTOP GARDEN BY MENAKA RAMAN-WILMS

November 18, 2022 by Diana Stevan

THE ROOFTOP GARDEN BY MENAKA RAMAN-WILMS
Image is not available

Though the story of The Rooftop Garden is fictional, I’m reminded of something Salman Rushdie once said, “novels tell the truth.”

previous arrowprevious arrow
next arrownext arrow

Current fiction reviews


current non-fiction reviews


Current Poetry Reviews


Current Titles for Younger Readers


Recent interviews


Excerpts!