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Jenn Writes

Writing my way through life, one word at a time.

Teaching Acceptance One Book at a Time

January 15, 2019 by koalateagirl

When I came online today, the first thing I saw were posts about the Ottawa Catholic School Board’s decision to limit access to the graphic novel Drama to kids in middle and high school only because a few parents were concerned that there is a same sex kiss depicted – and all the ahem drama the decision has caused. Naturally, I weighed in and several friends asked me for recommendations for books about LGBTQ+ families for kids of varying ages. So I’ve compiled a list – it’s not exhaustive or comprehensive and I’ve tried to include Canadian content where I could find it available, but it’s a starting point.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Books, Reviews Tagged With: Books, Diversity, gay marriage, inclusive, kids books, LGBTQ

Word Wednesday – Break Time

May 10, 2017 by koalateagirl

I’ve been neglecting the blog a little recently, partly because I haven’t had a word that I wanted to write about and a couple of the other pieces percolating in my brain haven’t worked out and partly because I’ve been busy writing for other people and reading for myself. My little word book has been getting quite the work out as I work my way through the almost complete collection of Phryne Fisher Mysteries I managed to score at the thrift store I volunteer at. They were sitting on the shelf as a set and they were signing their siren song. In the face of that temptation, I was helpless to resist (especially with the deal we had going on paperback books that day) and they came home with me. I loved watching Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries on Netflix / PBS and was delighted to find that the books are just as amazing as the show.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Books, Grammar, Reviews Tagged With: Books, learning, Miss Fisher, mysteries, Phryne Fisher, reading, Wednesday, Word Wednesday, words

Book Review – No Relation by Terry Fallis

April 17, 2015 by koalateagirl

“What’s in a name?” Juliet famously queried. “That which we call a rose, would smell as sweet” were it called something else, she noted as she contemplated the trouble that was caused by her true love having the last name of her family’s sworn rival.  In his latest novel, Terry Fallis has taken that question to the next level and the result is the hilariously funny No Relation. No Relation is Fallis’ fourth book – and the third I’ve read (I have Up and Down on my nightstand – queued up for reading when I finish my current book). As a political junkie, I adored The Best Laid Plans and its sequel The High Road. They were laugh out loud funny, and I was a little concerned about whether the smart and poignant political satire would transfer into a book that wasn’t at all political.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Books Tagged With: Books, Canadian Literature, CanLit, Funny, Humour, No Relation, reading, Reviews, Terry Fallis, The Best Laid Plans, The High Road, Up and Down

Book Review – Somewhere in France by Jennifer Robson

March 23, 2015 by koalateagirl

I’m a historian, and as such, I’m generally leery of reading historical fiction set in the time period I studied – World War One.  Small inaccuracies can drive me crazy.  Especially ones that I consider to be lazy – when the author didn’t do his or her research and messed up dates or places. Or when they have a character write a letter from France and their loved one in England gets it within days.  That rarely happens now, it sure as heck didn’t happen with a war going on and mail being censored.  [Read more…]

Filed Under: Books, Reviews Tagged With: Amazing Books, Fiction, Jennifer Robson, Novel, romance, Somewhere in France, World War One, WWI

Book review – Juliet’s Nurse by Lois Leveen

March 14, 2015 by koalateagirl

The Roman Philosopher Marcus Aurelius said that: “Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth”. This is true even of the greatest works of fiction. The stories we know and love come to us from one perspective – that which the author has chosen to give us. Major characters are (usually) well developed and minor characters are often not given a second thought by the reader. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Books, Reviews Tagged With: Books, historical fiction, reading, Reviews, Shakespeare

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Assorted Pictures

Jenn Writes Logo. An old fashioned typewriter with an cartoon owl next to it.
A tea cup with white and pink flowers on it full of tea
Lovely little tea cup… the teapot filled it 5 times
A picture of BMO field at twilight with the words "Every New Beginning Comes from Some Other Beginning's End
A curving road with trees with bright fall leaves on either side
The long and winding road

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