Literary Review of Canada | A Journal of Ideas

This week with bookworm

Steven Threndyle on Tami Knight’s Secret Plans, Vol. III. Michael Avanzato on Alvin Finkel’s Humans. Poetry by Jonathan Focht.

Let’s Be Frank

This has been like a slapshot to the face

Kyle Wyatt

Illustration by Matthew Daley for Dan Dunsky’s April 2025 review of “Speaking Truth to Canadians about Their Public Service” by Donald J. Savoie and “The Assault on the State” by Stephen E. Hanson and Jeffrey S. Kopstein.

The Machinery of Government

On some displeasing service

Dan Dunsky

Photograph for J. R. Patterson’s April 2025 review of “Folklife and Superstition” by Sandra Rollings-Magnusson and “Citizen, Settler, Soldier, Scoundrel” by David W. Grebstad.

Prairie Home Companions

Those who came, sodded, and conquered

J.R. Patterson

Chevrolet Masters

They made General Motors blow a gasket

Rod Mickleburgh

Illustration by Raymond Biesinger for Brad Dunne’s April 2025 review of “Out Here,” edited by Melvin Baker and Peter Neary.

Dear London

Letters from the edge of empire

Brad Dunne

The Secret Is Out

French Canada’s clandestine power brokers

Graham Fraser

Photograph by Jamal Burger for Noel Ransome’s April 2025 review of “Rhythms of Change,” by Mitchell Cohen.

Transition Zone

What is next for Toronto’s Regent Park?

Noel Ransome

Illustration by Tom Chitty for Dan Falk’s April 2025 review of “Daydreaming in the Solar System,” by John E. Moores and Jesse Rogerson.

Milky Ways

A constellation of possibilities

Dan Falk

Photograph for Virginia Heffernan’s April 2025 review of “Windfall,” by Tim Falconer.

Hard Core

Viola MacMillan knew the drill

Virginia Heffernan

Frank Hadesbeck riffled through Communist papers

Serge Protector?

The RCMP informant who saw red

David Marks Shribman

Illustration by Sarah Farquhar for Susan Grimbly’s review of “Half-Light” by Amy Kaler.

Detours and Discoveries

Stop and smell the wild roses

Susan Grimbly

Illustration by Paige Stampatori for Beth Haddon’s review of “Under Development: A Journey without Maps,” by Ian Smillie.

An Aid Memoir

Ian Smillie looks back

Beth Haddon

Photograph for Lindsey Harrington’s review of Linguaphile: A Life of Language Love, by Julie Sedivy.

Vernacular Spectacular

A linguist reaches for meaning

Lindsey Harrington

Bear with Me

Claire Cameron confronts mortal truths

Sandra Martin

Illustration by Neil Webb for Mark Kingwell’s April 2025 essay on contemporary poetry.

Tell All the Truth but Tell It Slant

A poetic consideration

Mark Kingwell

Illustration by Blair Kelly for Byron Armstrong’s April 2025 review of “A Different Hurricane” by H. Nigel Thomas.

Stormy Weather

H. Nigel Thomas on family and place

Byron Armstrong

Illustration by Alexander MacAskill for Tomas Hachard’s April 2025 review of “Juiceboxers” by Benjamin Hertwig.

Young Guns

From Edmonton to Kandahar City

Tomas Hachard

Photograph for Russell Smith’s April 2025 review of “The Uncollected Stories of Mavis Gallant” edited by Garth Risk Hallberg.

Gallantly

The late icon continues to delight

Russell Smith

A Cascade of Voices

Otoniya J. Okot Bitek maps an atrocity

Marisa Grizenko

Illustration by Sandi Falconer for David Staines’s April 2025 review of “The Riveter” by Jack Wang.

Rough Landing

Jack Wang’s debut novel

David Staines

Hadn’t a Clue

A case of books worth cracking

Emily Urquhart

Clear the Air

Be Careful What You Wish For

Car Talk