Seedy Motels, Striking Workers, Disaster at Sea, the Panama Canal, Food/Love, & More: July 14, 2025
Volume 2, Issue 26 of The Seaboard Review of Books
In this issue:
The American Zone by Howard Shrier
Bread and Stone by Allan Weiss
Off Menu by Amy Rosen
Shanghailanders by Juli Min
Prodigals by Sean Minogue
Enjoy Your Stay at the Shamrock Motel by Andrew Kaufman
The Lucky Seven: The Story of the Elite Navigator by Gary Collins
In Dialogue: Brenda J Thompson and Jeremy Ackerman
Review of the Week
The American Zone: A Novel of Panama by Howard Shrier
I tend to only read non-fiction. There are so many real stories out there, who needs to read made-up tales?. There are a few exceptions, however, and one of them Is Toronto’s own, award-winning author of contemporary crime fiction, Howard Shrier.
Fiction
Bread and Stone by Allan Weiss
So, you think you have a reasonable grasp of Canadian history? OK, can you name the public event during which Mounties charged unarmed citizens with batons, and then while firing their revolvers? The answer is the Winnipeg General Strike, the biggest labour stoppage in our history.
Off Menu by Amy Rosen
Food. That is the number one reason to read this book; it is full of delectable descriptions of food. (Even if you’re vegan and the characters poke a bit of fun at veganism.) Think French onion soup and lobster and potato dauphinoise. Think “fried soft-shelled crabs with a tarragon-lemon aioli” and “red cabbage and turnip gnocchi in a horseradish broth”…
Prodigals by Sean Minogue
Prodigals by Sean Minogue is a one act play of seven scenes set in a small bar in Sault Ste. Marie. In it, we follow the lives and dreams of a group of local patrons who meet and drink and discuss the ongoing trial of Benny, a schoolmate who is on trial for murder. Most have never left their hometown and reveal a bitter loyalty to the place, coupled wit…
Non-Fiction
The Lucky Seven: The Story of the Elite Navigator by Gary Collins
Having grown up in southeastern Ontario, far removed from the realities of maritime life, I rarely gave any thought to the origins of the seafood I consumed—whether the fish in my fish and chips or the shellfish served in upscale restaurants. My understanding of fishing was limited to freshwater angling during summers at our family cottage, far from the…
Interview
In Dialogue: Brenda J Thompson and Jeremy Ackerman
Jeremy Akerman is an adoptive Nova Scotian who has lived in the province since 1964. In that time he has been an archaeologist, a radio announcer, a politician, a senior civil servant, a newspaper editor and a film actor.
Michael Greenstein Reviews:
Hot Takes: Brief Notes on Books Present & Past
(Note: clicking on the underlined link takes you to the book’s publisher page or Amazon.ca for more information or for purchasing purposes)
Written on the Dark by Guy Gavriel Kay
Guy Gavriel Kay’s latest novel Written on the Dark explores the same different-but-familiar fantasy world that appeared in some of his previous works, including All the Seas of the World and A Brightness Long Ago. While it takes place in a different, imaginary locale, Written on the Dark was inspired by medieval France, and includes a Joan of Arc figure, albeit with a happier ending.
The protagonist, Thierry Villar, is a tavern poet. Definitely not included among the great and powerful, he is nonetheless swept up into important events within his world. As in some of Kay’s other books, Written on the Dark shows us how slight nuances can affect the tide of events, at the personal level as well as more broadly. Steeped in a different time and place, Written on the Dark contains echoes of our own world’s history, lending a ring of authenticity. Those who enjoyed All the Seas of the World and A Brightness Long Ago should enjoy this latest addition to Kay’s works. (Reviewed by Lisa Timpf)
Book News
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Emily Weedon’s Drunk Fiction
Yes, The Seaboard Review of Books is sponsoring “Drunk Fiction”! One of the books for sale at the event will be free for a lucky attendee. Mark your calendars for July 22nd! The Caledonian is at 856 College Street in Toronto. Drink responsibly, read voraciously!
Selena Mercuri
Co-admin and contributor Selena Mercuri has started up a new Substack site that promises to be a CanLit hit: Coffee Dates with Authors. Click the link below to find out more and subscribe.
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Thanks for reading this issue of The Seaboard Review of Books!
James M. Fisher, editor-in-chief
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