The Seaboard Review of Books
Volume 3, Issue 7, February 16, 2026
In this issue:
Nightshade by Lynn Hutchinson Lee (Fiction)
The Love You Take by Robert Wilson (Fiction)
Undertow by Beverley Shaw (Fiction)
Seamus and the Shiny Things, written and illustrated by Cara Kansala (Fiction, Children’s)
Cheapskate in Lotusland: The philosophy and practice of living well on a small budget by Steve Burgess (Non-Fiction)
The Art of Looking Back by Theresa Kishkan (Non-Fiction, Memoir)
Gordon Phinn’s New, Old and Notable: Volume 2, Issue 2
Thanks for reading this issue of The Seaboard Review of Books!
James M. Fisher, editor-in-chief
Fiction
Nightshade by Lynn Hutchinson Lee
Lynn Hutchinson Lee’s Nightshade is billed as a “gorgeous, Gothic coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of the 1980s Southern Ontario tobacco belt.” The book includes magical realism, and is told in lyrical prose, using short chapters.
The Love You Take by Robert Wilson
Ah, the fabled 1960s. Idealistic students, protesting against injustice. Inspiring leaders, like Martin Luther King, Jr., with his noble “I have a dream” march on Washington, D.C. Or John F. Kennedy, facing down the Dr. Strangelove-type generals pressuring him to invade Cuba. (The wistful irony of such a president from today’s perspective, hey?)
Undertow by Beverley Shaw
When I first received my review copy of Undertow, the debut novel by Beverly Shaw, I wasn’t quite sure what to make of it, based on the cover image of a breaking wave. The title and author’s name are in an understated serif font. And, as the book is published by Galleon, one never quite knows what the insides hold, as their output to date has been very …
Non-Fiction
Cheapskate in Lotusland: The philosophy and practice of living well on a small budget by Steve Burgess
Cheapskate in Lotusland is an interesting discussion and memoir on the benefits (and a few drawbacks) of living a frugal life. The book includes historical contexts and the significance of how frugality has been viewed. Interspersed with factual research and humour, this was a fascinating and educational read. For Burgess, living frugally has been both …
Children’s Books
Seamus and the Shiny Things, written and illustrated by Cara Kansala
You meet a friend for coffee or lunch. You’re having a good convo—then, abruptly, it stops. Your friend can’t, simply can’t, resist pausing to wave their hands about and admire their sparkly-painted nails.
New, Old and Notable: Volume 2, Issue 2
New, Old & Notable is a recurring column by Gordon Phinn in which he concisely reviews several books from the past and present. Links will take you to the publisher’s page for more information.
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