Literary Review of Canada | A Journal of Ideas

This week with bookworm

Jadine Ngan on Richard Kelly Kemick’s Decadence. Grace Henkel reviews Liz Johnston’s The Fall‑Down Effect. A page from Jón Kalman Stefánsson’s The Heart of Man.

For All to Hear

A collective wake-up call

Kyle Wyatt

Pitch Perfect?

On the promise and perils of global soccer

James Brooke-Smith

An illustration by Sandi Falconer for Stacey May Fowles July/August 2026 review of “On Sports,” by David Macfarlane.

From the 500s with Love

Remember peanuts and Cracker Jack?

Stacey May Fowles

An illustration by Paige Stampatori for Michael Ledger-Lomas’s July/August 2026 review of “Trading Fate,” by Graeme Menzies.

Sound Footings

On otter pelts and territorial disputes

Michael Ledger-Lomas

La variole

Echoes of infections past

John Baglow

An illustration by Dave Cutler for Ron Verzuh’s July/August 2026 review of “Race to the Cape,” by Theresa M. O’Leary.

The Pigeon Press

Boats, birds, and telegraph wires

Ron Verzuh

A photograph by Harry Whitter Press for Kyle Wyatt’s July/August 2026 review of “Cats: A History,” by Rod Phillips.

Puss in Books

We have always served at their pleasure

Kyle Wyatt

An illustration by David Parkins for Bruce K. Ward’s July/August 2026 review of “Ecological Nation,” by Byron Williston.

Wolves at the Door

Seeking a robust Canadian nationalism

Bruce K. Ward

How Graphic Are These Novels?

Banned books deserve reviews too

Amanda Perry

A photograph by Alamy for Greg Hudson’s July/August 2026 review of “The Leisure Ethic,” by David Edward Tabachnick.

Doing Nothing Right

Somewhere between laid-back and laid off

Greg Hudson

An illustration by Raymond Biesinger for Kelvin Browne’s July/August 2026 review of “Exploring Montréal” by Robin Ward.

Island of Exteriors

Before and after Habitat 67

Kelvin Browne

An illustration by Natàlia Pàmies Luís for Pamela Mulloy’s July/August 2026 review of “Radiant. White. Light,” by Mo Duffy.

A Separate Piece

The misery of a broken heart

Pamela Mulloy

An illustration by YQ Huang for Jack Wang’s July/August 2026 review of “The Astronaut Children of Dunbar Street” by Wiley Wei-Chiun Ho.

Unaccompanied Minors

A different kind of immigration story

Jack Wang

An illustration by Sarah Farquhar for Bob Armstrong’s July/August 2026 reviews of “Northern Girls,” by Michelle Willms and “Black Bear,” by Trina Moyles.

That Old Song

Two accounts of the Near North

Bob Armstrong

An illustration by Karsten Petrat for Jude Isabella’s July/August 2026 review of “Dead Bees Still Sting,” by Susan Cormier.

There Will Be Change

Of worker bees and warnings

Jude Isabella

Just Dessert

A surfer runs to it

Dan Rubinstein

An illustration by Mateusz Napieralski for Kelly Baron’s July/August 2026 review of “The Wren,” by A.F Moritz.

In No Small Part

A. F. Moritz’s witty collection

Kelly Baron

A Week in September

Wayne Johnston unveils another family drama

Tom Jokinen

An illustration by Bridgeman Images for Jack Sullivan’s July/August 2026 review of “Queen Esther,“ by John Irving.

Inscrutable Revelations

The latest from John Irving

Jack Sullivan

An illustration by Matthew Daley for Danielle Douez’s July/August 2026 review of “The Life of a Creature,” by Nadja Lubiw-Hazard.

Pet Project

A sharp debut from Nadja Lubiw‑Hazard

Danielle Douez

An illustration by Blair Kelly for Kevin Jagernauth’s July/August 2026 review of “Cherry Beach,” by Don Gillmor.

Slain and Abel

Don Gillmor’s Hogtown confidential

Kevin Jagernauth

A Spirited Debacle

Michael Eddy’s satirical first novel

Rod Moody-Corbett

Figure of Speeches

What Arthur Meighen thought of William Shakespeare

Maureen Jennings

Chartered Fight

In Little Jamaica

The Devil Is in the Details