ORB September 2026 Issue
It’s back to school for the Ottawa Review of Books’ team. This month, our reviewers present their insights on book that tickle their fancy. From engaging family memoir fact and fiction to stories replete with observation and self-reflection, a woman’s empowerment in an Islamic society, a journey through art and culture and finally to top-notch science fiction, there is something for everyone in this issue.
The Astronaut Children of Dunbar Street by Wiley Wei-Chiun Ho
Reviewed by Wayne Ng “When people ask about my childhood, the airport is what comes to mind.” It is one of the most revealing lines in Wiley Wei-Chiun Ho’s The Astronaut Children of Dunbar Street, a memoir about migration, family, and the emotional costs of living between countries. The airport becomes a powerful metaphor for the childhood Ho describes: a life shaped by departures, temporary reunions, and the uncertainty of when loved ones will return. It is where the family’
What Endures by Pauline Holdstock
Reviewed by Timothy Niedermann Whether it’s an over-excited dog, a man heading for parts unknown, or a woman looking at herself in the mirror, Pauline Holdstock holds your attention. Many of her stories start out almost mundanely: in “Dear Geoffrey,” a long-lost friend from England writes to say he is coming to visit; in “Perfect Beauty,” a woman admires herself in the mirror, proud of herself for looking young; in “Maternity Suit,” a woman starting a new job is admired for b
Under the Full and Crescent Moon by Aamir Hussain
Reviewed by Sonia Saikaley Aamir Hussain’s Under the Full and Crescent Moon takes readers into a Muslim society where women, from the Imam to the Circle of Mothers, hold most of the power. Set in the hilltop city of Medina’tul-Agham, the novel brings together an intriguing cast of characters who demonstrate what faith, family and politics mean to them. At the centre of this story is Khadija, a young woman who has lived a sheltered life with her father, the city’s leading juri
Almost English by Barbara Sibbald
Reviewed by Deborah-Anne Tunney Reading the novel Almost English, a homage by Barbara Sibbald to her great-grandparents, I came to feel an endearing closeness and sympathy for its central characters. Although set in another country with other cultural references, the story highlights the similarities between their ambition for a fulfilling life and how it is the same as our ambition and countless other people world-wide. Generally, we all want to have close family relations,
A Long Walk With Fate by Liz Torlée
Reviewed by Wendy Hawkin Torlée’s third and latest novel offers glimpses into the art world, exotic locales (decor, culture, and cuisines), philosophical concepts, and the interweaving of lives and histories to illustrate one universal theme: the complexity of motherhood. Part One introduces several disparate characters who revolve around each other like planets in the night sky. At times, it’s hard to keep them straight. Twenty-six-year-old Aiden Quinn, the protagonist, is a
The Curve of the Corridor by Victoria Feistner
Reviewed by Robert Runté You know how in those cooking contest shows there’s often a ‘reinvention’ challenge, where the cooks are asked to take an everyday comfort food and ‘elevate’ it? The Curve of the Corridor is that for Space Opera. The story starts out with smugglers, a gang lord, and space pirates, but quickly moves onto a Mary Celeste situation: a giant generation-Ark floating abandoned in the middle of nowhere. As they delve into the mystery of what happened to the
ORB’s June 2026 Issue
For your summer beach reading, here are our insights into an eclectic selection of four recent books by Canadian authors, Mark Anthony Jarman, Thomas Trofimuk, Zsuzsi Gartner and Elinor Florence. We hope you enjoy the reviews! See you again in September.
Smash & Grab by Mark Anthony Jarman
Reviewed by Timothy Niedermann This latest effort by the prolific Mark Anthony Jarman is full of evidence of what has made him such an admired writer. While a couple of the stories are fairly straightforward, what characterizes most of them is what can be called “variegated depth.” What is meant by that is that Jarman does not simply lay out a story or its characters in a linear way. He adds scenes and details that stray far from his original plot line, adding nuance to the c
Saudade by Thomas Trofimuk
Reviewed by Robert Runté This is a novel about the fear of death, of loss and longing, of aimless searching. Wait, wait! Don’t leave! This is not the sort of tedious, depressing literary novel about death and dying that only a literature professor could love. This one is a surprisingly great read. It is a puzzle novel. A mystery, but not really the who-done-it-kind. More existential, but in a fun way. And, just under the surface, there is this wry humour: our hero pictures de
