Free to Read
Photo Credit: Jayanth Muppaneni
“With a library you are free, not confined by temporary political climates. It is the most democratic of institutions because no one—but no one at all—can tell you what to read and when and how.” ~ Doris Lessing
February is a month in which we celebrate love. My first three blogs were about perspectives on the nature of love, romantic love and devotional love. Since it’s I Love to Read month and Freedom to Read week, in today’s blog I’m sharing my top fiction and non-fiction reads of 2025. I’m not trying to convince you of what to read, or when or how—but it can be a daunting task to choose which book to read next when there are so many options out there. It’s an eclectic list, from historical fiction to memoir to societal and political commentaries. I hope, dear reader, it will spur your curiosity and help you to discover your next favourite read.
Top Fiction Reads
1. Tell Me Everything ~ Elizabeth Strout
A Goodreads Choice award and Oprah’s Book Club recommendation, I loved Tell Me Everything. Strout’s remarkable insight into the psychology of being human is the river that runs through everything she writes, pushing the plot down the current of the storyline and revealing the innermost thoughts of a complicated cast of characters. The characters are the foundation of the story, who all grapple with the question, “What does anyone’s life mean?” With a murder investigation throw into the mix, this read took me on an incredible journey.
2. The Underground Railroad ~ Colson Whitehead
A Goodreads award winner, an Oprah’s Book Club pick, and the 2017 Pulitzer Prize winner, The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead surpassed all my expectations. A historical fiction set in the United States, the novel’s strength is rooted in its protagonist, Cora. The action moves from terrifying to cautious hope as plans are foiled only to be rekindled by unexpected allies. An epic adventure, my emotions dove left, then right only to somersault and flip sideways.
3. The Weight of Ink ~ Rachel Kadish
An interwoven tale of two remarkable women, each pioneers of their time, it is history told in the context of the characters who lived it. Set in two time periods, the 1660s and early twenty-first century, it takes place mostly in London, with brief forays into Amsterdam and Israel. Ambitious, remarkable, utterly engaging and unforgettable, I still feel the weight of ink imprinted on my heart after reading this beautifully written historical fiction.
4. Remarkably Bright Creatures ~ Shelby Van Pelt
I was captivated by Shelby Van Pelt’s imaginative portrayal of the internal musings of Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus in captivity at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. In my view, he is the soul of this story that endeared it to my heart. His clever observations somehow felt completely plausible. Simple, yet profound statements like “darkness suits me,” “Yes, I can read,” and one of my favourites, “Yes, it is a preposterous name.” Marcellus, Tova and Cameron are each relatable and lovable in their own quirky ways. Original, insightful, and a satisfying conclusion.
5. Five Little Indians ~ Michelle Good
A story of five residential school survivors as they struggle to process and release the traumas that were inflicted upon them, the characters are fictitious, but their experiences are based on factual accounts of a time in Canadian history. An incredibly poignant novel, it is a tribute to human resilience and at the same time, a testimony to how abuse can irrevocably damage the human spirit. It was a difficult read, but I believe the truth is a light that must be shone into the darkness for the dysfunctional cycles of human behaviour to change.
Top Non-Fiction Reads
1. The Reason You Walk ~ Wab Kinew
I chose to read The Reason You Walk by Wab Kinew after moving to Winnipeg and witnessing Manitoba’s Premier in action. It was refreshing to see a public figure willing to be open, honest and vulnerable about who he is, and I was interested to see what his writing would reveal. Reading this poignant memoir was further testimony to his character and integrity. I learned through his story many things about the Anishinaabe and his father’s history with residential schools. A moving memoir, it is an invitation to walk across the bridge that spans the gulf between cultures, and to learn how to love one another.
2. The Untethered Soul ~ Michael A. Singer
A spiritual guide to awakening as a conscious being, The Untethered Soul takes readers on a journey to the Divine space within them, towards liberation. Michael Singer poses questions that help guide us to recognize our habitual thought patterns. His examples of the inner narratives that play over and over in our minds are spot-on. Filled with strategies to help us quiet our minds, to follow the path of nonresistance, and to find inner peace, I’m keen to follow up with his guided journal, to put his theories into practice.
3. Matrescence ~ Lucy Jones
I picked up this revolutionary book about the changes women go through when they become mothers from my son’s coffee table the morning I arrived at his home in Brazil. When I read the prologue, I was captivated by the author’s gift of beautiful, descriptive language when writing about scientific concepts. A blending of science and memoir, I was heart-struck by this powerful recognition of the hard and important work of mothering, so often overlooked and undervalued by modern societies.
4. The Last Girl ~ Nadia Murad
I was given my copy of The Last Girl by a young man who is also a Yazidi from Iraq. His family was able to escape and immigrate to Canada when the Islamic State militants invaded many cities like Nadia’s village, Kocho. A memoir, Nadia’s story describes the horrific events of massacre, rape, and death that turned her life upside down in August 2014. While I was well aware of ISIS, I had no idea of the atrocities that were taking place in Iraq. Nadia’s story is a reminder of the long road that humanitarians and proponents of justice have in front of them.
As I said in my introduction, it’s an eclectic list of nine titles I have compiled for today’s blog. Wherever your path takes you, whatever your values, interests and choices, I hope you will embrace the gift of the freedom to choose what and when and how you read. I hope you will be a voice, for this freedom to never be denied by any political agenda. Ever.
COMING UP…
Books & Projects:
· In December 2025 I signed a contract with Austin Macauley Publishers for my manuscript, The Trials of Alex Anderson, a character-driven novel that explores the relationship between mental illness and trauma. I am now on the road to publication, with an expected release date near the end of 2026. I’ll be posting regular updates here on my blog and on social media, so stay tuned for exciting new developments.
· The Rogue Scorpion is available online at Amazon, Chapters-Indigo, and Barnes & Noble. You can also find it at select Chapters-Indigo and El Hombre de la Mancha bookstores.
Reviews & Interviews:
· You can read, listen, or watch a large selection of reviews and interviews on my website.
Events:
· There are no events currently scheduled in my calendar.
YouTube Channel:
Watch The Rogue Scorpion trailer