The Bookshelf Cafe News

I once told an author, “You have such lovely prose. What’s your secret?” She said, “I also write poetry.” And … More Time and other Poems by Leanne Dyck →

Does Lark’s sister Robin inspire her or hamper her development?Because their mother Marianne can’t be tamed by motherhood, Lark must … More Book Review: Dual Citizens by Alix Ohlin Scotiabank Giller shortlisted book 2019 →

I meet Benni Chisholm through the Crime Writers of Canada and it is my pleasure to introduce her to you today. Take … More Cozies and Me by mystery author Benni Chisholm →

I went looking for a book all Canada should read and found one all North America should As the gap … More Book Review: my Canada Reads book by Leanne Dyck →

A novel about being an award-winning author and the price the family must pay, told from the spouse’s point-of-view. In … More Book Review: The Wife by Meg Wolitzer →

What do you do when a dream dies? photo by ldyck The Pitter-patter of Little Feet After calculations and re-calculations–aided … More The Pitter-patter of Little Feet by Leanne Dyck (short story) →

Would you like to get personal? Want to get to know me a little better–you bare person, you? Well, here … More Short story collection: The stories of my life by Leanne Dyck →

The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Buchanan provides glimpses into the relationship between two sisters growing up in the slums … More Book Review: The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Buchanan (historical fiction) →

Be My Love by Kit Pearson is about secrets hidden and secrets shared, and it’s about personal truths discovered. Buy … More Book Review: Be My Love by Kit Pearson (young adult novel) →

Do you own your house or does it own you? ‘Craigdarroch Castle’ photo by ldyck Ownership The minute the couple … More Ownership by Leanne Dyck (short story) →

Empire of Wild by Cherie Dimaline is a cautionary folk tale about corporate greed for Aboriginal land.Story question:  What challenges … More Book Review: Empire of Wild by Cherie Dimaline (thriller, fantasy) →

photo by ldyck Your favourite book based on how many page views the book review received.If you click the title … More 2010s: Your Favourite Books →

The Call of the Wild is about weathering through life transitions and learning how to be the master of your … More The Call of the Wild by Jack London (adventure) →

‘view from Mayne Island’ photo by ldyck 2020 Meditation You are a vessel Pour out  what no longer serves you … More 2020 Meditation by Leanne Dyck →

In 2019, I clicked my pen and wrote humour, magical realism, women’s fiction, metafiction, a narrative poem, historical fiction, and … More 2019: Your Favourite Stories (list) →

Think back. What was one of your most favourite childhood presents–of all time; ever. What happened to that present? Do … More A Christmas Present (short story) by Leanne Dyck →

Set in France, The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George is about enduring, transcendent love–for people and books. ‘”Books are … More Book Review: The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George (contemporary romance) →

A short story inspired by my mom’s naughty kid. Magical Christmas Reindeer in the woods photo by ldyck Christmas Secrets … More Christmas Secrets (short story) by Leanne Dyck →

photo by ldyck December can be a challenging month for many, including me. So I thought I’d help us start … More Hmm… (a list of book quotes) →

One rainy autumn day, I and my friend Linda spent part of an afternoon discussing The End of the Affair … More Book Review: The End of the Affair by Graham Greene (romance) →

The Agricultural Society Hall on Mayne Island, BC will be full of storytelling and music on  November 30. The doors … More On Stage with the Island Storyteller (short story) by Leanne Dyck →

Eighty-year-old, newly widowed, newly retired, Noah Selvaggio travels to his home-town Nice, France with an envelope full of mysterious photos … More Book Review: Akin by Emma Donoghue →

I started reviewing books for this blog in 2012. Recently, I re-read my notes. To celebrate this blog’s ninth anniversary, … More Writing About Books (list of quotes) →

The Picture of Dorian Gray explores what can happen to a man’s life when he is manipulated by the wrong … More Book Review: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (horror) →

Many years ago, when I was in elementary school, a story I wrote was published in my rural community newspaper. … More The Craftsman (short story) by Leanne Dyck →