Summer of My Amazing Luck

There's nothing amazing or lucky in this book. Perhaps a better title would have been, "My Down-And-Out Tale." Perhaps the title is trying to be ironic. It's a story about a single mother who's on welfare. Her situation is miserable. But her story is told with an air of humor and indifference to her......more

I hope the movie rights to this novel have been snapped up by a producer with an appreciation for strong female characters. This book has plenty. A great read -- and the author gets bonus marks for winding in cultural references to Casey, Finnegan, and Mr. Dressup.......more

God, do I EVER love to read a book set in the world’s greatest city!!!......more

The story had the potential to be a really fun read, but I was disappointed to realize that the actual trip—the part I was most looking forward to—only lasted a few chapters. If the author had spent less time detailing the characters’ welfare situations and more time delivering what was promised in......more

'Summer of My Amazing Luck' was Miriam Toews first novel and although it lacks the polished writing more evident in the latter 'A Complicated Kindness', itself the 2004 winner of the Governor General's award, it still makes for an interesting read. Through the eyes of Lucy Van Alstyne we are given a......more