Literary Review of Canada | A Journal of Ideas

This week with bookworm

Ted Fraser reviews Owen Schalk’s Targeting Libya. Selena Mercuri on Marianne Ackerman’s Oyster.

To Review, or Not to Review

Dwindling serendipity in the age of the algorithm

Kyle Wyatt

An illustration by David Parkins for Aaron Wherry’s April 2026 review of “A New Blueprint for Government” by Kevin G. Lynch and James R. Mitchell and “Statecraft” by Stephen Azzi and Patrice Dutil.

They Desire a Better System

Share the burden, perhaps?

Aaron Wherry

A photograph from Glenbow Library and Archives Collection; University of Calgary for Michael Ledger-Lomas’s April 2026 review of “Thirsty Land into Springs of Water” by Brooke Kathleen Brassard.

House of Card

When the saints came marching in

Michael Ledger-Lomas

A photograph from Glenbow Library and Archives Collection; University of Calgary; George Millican Fonds for J.L. Granatstein’s April 2026 review of “No Place like Home” by Bohdan S. Kordan.

Behind the Wire

The enemies we invented and interned

J.L. Granatstein

An illustration by Diana Bolton for Ruth Panofsky’s April 2026 review of “Till We Meet Again” by Brandon Marriott.

Dear Mabs

Dusting off letters from the Western Front

Ruth Panofsky

They Were Not What They Were

A history of stage right and wrong

Andrew Torry

An illustration by Raymond Biesinger for Dan Falk’s April 2026 review of “The Pale Blue Data Point” by Jon Willis.

Desperately Seeking Space Friends

Our search continues

Dan Falk

An illustration by Paige Stampatori for David Marks Shribman’s April 2026 review of “Hunting History” by Erna Paris.

A Lifetime Preoccupation

Erna Paris’s final book

David Marks Shribman

An illustration by Dave Murray for Steven Threndyle’s April 2026 review of “Mountaineering Women” by Joanna Croston.

Highs and Lows

Wicked peaks and the ladies who climb them

Steven Threndyle

A photograph from the Art Gallery of Ontario; Courtesy of Goose Lane Editions for John Geddes’s April 2026 review of “Winter Count” and “David Blackwood.”

Cold Comforts

On two sublime exhibitions

John Geddes

An image from the Private Collection; Wyndham Lewis Memorial Trust; Bridgeman Images for Keith Garebian’s April 2026 review of “’Our Little Gang’” by James King.

Another Group of Seven

At the centre of a movement

Keith Garebian

: An illustration by Sandi Falconer for Rose Hendrie’s April 2026 essay on the ups and downs of travelling by cruise ship.

Manifesting

All decked out and nowhere to go

Rose Hendrie

An illustration by Mateusz Napieralski for Sandra Martin’s April 2026 essay on a recent trip to Rome with her three sisters.

Ode to a Roman Reunion

Four sisters and a poet

Sandra Martin

An illustration by Matthew Daley for Dan Rubinstein’s April 2026 review of “Greyhound” by Joanna Pocock.

Feels on the Bus

Bumpy roads, tougher stories

Dan Rubinstein

An illustration by Sarah Farquhar for Pasha Mallas’s April 2026 essay on M.A.C. Farrant.

The Binge

My year with M. A. C. Farrant

Pasha Malla

An illustration by Karsten Petrat for Michael W. Higgins’s April 2026 review of “Songs of Love on a December Night” by David Adams Richards.

Murder on the Miramichi

David Adams Richards writes of sins and tragedies

Michael W. Higgins

An illustration by Nick Lowndes for Adam Hill’s April 2026 review of “Planet Earth” by Nicholas Ruddock.

Short Change

A collection by Nicholas Ruddock

Adam Hill

In Passing

The latest from Tara Gereaux

Marisa Grizenko

An illustration by Blair Kelly for Alyanna Chua’s April 2026 review of “Bunny” and “We Love You Bunny” by Mona Awad.

That’s Not All, Folks

Down Mona Awad’s rabbit hole

Alyanna Chua

Wed or Alive

Lindsay Wong’s unholy matrimony

David Staines

Unsettling

The book we didn’t read growing up

Laurie D. Graham

Little Orphan Áine

Green Guides

The Gorta Mór