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Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Reflections on Queer Parenthood and the Holidays from the contributors of Swelling with Pride
With holiday get-togethers on our radar, we’re turning our thoughts to family: the different kinds and journeys to making one. Below editor Sara Graefe and contributors of Swelling with Pride: Queer Conception and Adoption Stories (Caitlin Press) give us our thoughts on queer parenthood—its surprises, funniest moments, lessons, and more.
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Character Study: Primrose Street
When we got our hands on the compulsively-readable character-driven Primrose Street (Blue Moon Publishers), we knew it was perfect for the big screen. Featuring a load of diverse characters living in a small rural town, the novel follows their limited neighbourly interactions that are often more complex than they appear, making for a great movie premise. With help…
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Poetry in Motion: Between the lines of “Holy Ghost” from Reunion
Deanna Young’s newest collection Reunion (Brick Books)—a pastoral-gothic hybrid that plays with forms from ballads to prayer to Biblical sermons—weaves in and out of time looking back on a younger self who is confronting old violence. Below Deanna tells us in her own words about her collection, when it began, how it confirmed for her…
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In Review: The Week of December 10th
This week we earned some baking cred with a new cookbook dedicated to cookies, concocted a tastier-than-it-sounds cocktail to pair with a new poetry collection, interviewed authors, and more!
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First Fiction Friday: Worry Stones
Our #fridayreads this week is Worry Stones (Ronsdale Press), a first novel for author Joanna Lilley. The novel follows main character Jenny as she leaves her life in the Canadian Arctic behind after learning about her mother’s stroke. Through the turmoil of reconnecting with her sister and estranged, cult-following parents, Jenny finds the path towards rekindling her long-lost creative…
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Chappy Hour: The Dirty Sock + Rouge
ALU mixologist Tan Light whips up a drink to pair with the featured poem “Keele” from Adrian De Leon’s collection Rouge (Mawenzi House) – an homage to the TTC and Toronto’s east end. This cocktail might be called The Dirty Sock, but it definitely won’t taste like one – we promise!
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Test Kitchen: Rock Recipes Cookies!
The reason for the holiday season? Piping hot cookies! Serving up some shockin’ good recipes from recipe blogger and food photographer Barry C. Parsons, this Test Kitchen’s holy text is the just-in-time-for-the-holidays Rock Recipes Cookies (Breakwater Books). Scroll down for two tasty recipes that’ll bake your day (and will get you further away from our bad puns).
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Writer’s Block: Martine Delvaux
We sit down with Montreal-based Martine Delvaux, author of several novels including critically acclaimed Bitter Rose and most recently White Out (Linda Leith Publishing) to talk about her influences, writing as “rendez-vous,” and the toughest part of being a writer.
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Where in Canada: History of a High-Rise
The picaresque stories in Paul Carlucci’s compelling short story collection High-Rise in Fort Fierce (Goose Lane Editions) centre on the ravaged past of Franklin Place from construction to demolition decades later. In this piece, Paul takes us through the history of Mackenzie Place in Hay River, NWT which informs the setting in his collection.
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In Review: The Week of December 3rd
This week we brought you more book recommendations with Just the Thing, cheered for the RBC Taylor Prize longlist, read about the intersection between poetry and science, and much more!
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Just the Thing: Books to go with those lottery tickets & gift cards
Our final Just the Thing picks are dedicated to the giftees on your list who believe in gambler’s fallacy and scoff at the idea of Dry January.
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Just the Thing: Books to go with those gardening tools & plants
If your green-thumb giftee is starting to feel the winter blahs from spending too much time indoors, complete the gift with these book recommendations that will remind them of brighter days spent exploring nature and tending the sun-warmed soils of their beloved gardens and flowerbeds.
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Just the Thing: Books to go with that sports memorabilia
We brought out the heavy-hitters for the ones on your gift list whose encyclopedic knowledge of sports trivia is so deep their fast facts include The Undertaker’s secret phobia.
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Just the Thing: Books to go with those bath & self-care products
The holidays aren’t just a chance to see the family you avoid you missed all year. They’re also the perfect opportunity to treat yo’self—and your giftee—to some much-needed relaxation and self-care. Put the finishing touches on the perfect gift with one of these book recommendations that are as bomb as the one you bought for…
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Just the Thing: Books to go with those travel accessories
In between pit stops, the jet-setting travel bug on your list can kick back with these two travel-inspired book picks. Pack these with those travel accessories or that ticket to Cuba you’re generously gifting, and your loved one will be sending you postcards from all of their destinations.
Got any book recommendations?