by Jarrett Seto

I’ve been enamoured by magical realism since first reading One Hundred Years of Solitude on the banks of the Bow River in Alberta. The genre tells a tale in a manner that you’d hear 5 years ago, 50 years ago, or 5000 years ago, sitting around a fire in a dark wood. The fantastical elements are timeless and may be as ancient as the tradition of storytelling itself. Primordial romanticism is the emotion you experience when you’re deeply immersed in a work of magical realism. There’s a sense of wanderlust, of a semi-mythical journey of physical or emotional distance, and a sense of deep rooted familiarity, like we’ve got the stories embedded in our DNA. They’ve been told a thousand times before, but at the same time, they’re completely new and one of a kind.

She Would Be King By Wayétu Moore (2019)

In She Would Be King, experience the formative years of Liberia through the eyes of interesting characters, who happen to discover that they’ve also awoken exceedingly unique powers. Think of them as proto-feminist superheroes, existing in a nation built by former enslaved people from the United States and the Caribbean. Each of the three main characters represent a person from a corner of the transatlantic slave trade. Riveting action and allegory combine in what one could call an elevated intersectional-historical-magical realism masterpiece. Bringing colonial history to life without shying away from its brutalities, Moore manages to captivate you with the strength of her characters.

The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto By Mitch Albom (2016)

Six magical blue strings and one guitarist can make a whole lot of change. Frankie is born under a bad sign, escaping Spanish bombs(Oo-ooh child, things are gonna get easier), but he’s the cream of his generation and he’s no pressed rat and warthog about it. One might call him a rambler, or a gambler, a long way from home, or one of the children of the revolution. He makes records, and he might not be playing your song but he changes (turn and face the strange) people’s lives. He carries that weight well, and you’ll enjoy following him on his long and winding road through the Twentieth Century. By the time he gets to Woodstock, he’s been working 9 to 5 as a musician. Whether he’s sittin’ on the dock of the bay or cutting green onions, you’re bound for a magical mystery tour. The way he travels (whether on country roads or Misty Mountain hopping) reminds me of Joni Mitchell’s Coyote, “A prisoner of the white lines on the freeway.” Albom’s love of music resonates through each page, and the writing’s as vivid as a Waterloo Sunset. Frankie’s not one to relax, that’s for sure.

I’ll give you a dollar if you can name all of the musical references above.

Ka: Dar Oakley in the ruin of Ymr By John Crowley (2017)

Meet Dar Oakley, the first crow with a name. Dar’s been around for thousands of years, and has travelled the globe, from Ireland to the land of the dead. He’s acquired knowledge that may be of paramount importance to humanity, and thankfully he’s met a human who’s happened to learn crow (which, in a humourous twist, is said to have regional dialects – check out 12 Fascinating Facts About Crows | Mental Floss). Vivid and graceful writing will entice you to keep reading this book about the finite nature of mortality and the immortality of stories. The concepts are heavy but the writing is the word version of strolling through an orchard lined with tropical plants and colourful wildflowers.

by Glenice Lilje

The Immigrant Experience

My family moved to Canada in the early 1990’s when I was but the wee age of 10.  We stayed with family in the beginning and didn’t know too many people outside of our circle.  Classmates at school had difficulty pointing out the Philippines on the map but had an eagerness to learn more about my heritage and didn’t shy away from asking question. Adjusting to a new country and way of life was difficult at first, even lonely at times.  Slowly, our community grew as well as our social circles and in turn, so did the level of support we received.

Sure, there were times where I still felt like my sister and I stuck out, especially during lunchtime when we would bring dinner leftovers of fried fish and rice while everyone else had PB & J’s. I still remember having to ask friends to take their shoes off when entering my house or explaining the various religious statues on display.  I had different personas where I would be a one person when I was with my family and another when I was at school or around friends. It wasn’t that I was embarrassed of my culture, which was hardly the case, it was just my sister and I wanted so badly to fit in.

Looking back now, I would hardly say that my experience was unique.  Like many other immigrant families who come to Canada, we were in search of more opportunities and for a new way of life. As a newcomer, it made it difficult to realize which cultures I identified with and how my “labels” would fit in with society.  Today, we are fortunate that Canada is a melting pot of many diverse ethnicities and communities where different cultures are welcomed and celebrated. Regardless of the hardships and obstacles we faced when we first moved to Canada, I am forever grateful to my parents for leaving everything they knew so that my sister and I are able to enjoy the life we have built for ourselves today.

Here are some titles of other stories similar to mine:

Chop Suey Nation:  The Legion Café and Other Stories from Canada’s Chinese Restaurants by Ann Hui, 2019.

Ever wonder why there is a Chinese restaurant in every small town? Author Anna Hui took a drive across Canada to find out why and ended up learning so much more.  Hui grew up in Vancouver but had always wondered about small-town Chinese restaurants and the families who run them.  It was only after this book was published that she came to know that her own parents could have been included in her story.  Like many of the owners, her family spent generations living in impoverished areas of China and moved to Canada for more opportunities. By the end of her trip, Hui comes to learn and appreciate the perseverance, entrepreneurialism and deep love of family that drives these owners, her parents included, have to make a better life, the significance of these restaurants in our country’s history and why chop suey cuisine should be recognized as quintessentially Canadian.

We Have Always Been Here: A Queer Muslim Memoir by Samra Habib, 2020.

Samra Habib’s coming of age story recounts her childhood as an Ahmadi Muslim in Pakistan, hiding from Islamic extremists, seeking refuge in Canada where her and family face new and different obstacles. When Samra discovers that her mother has arranged for her to get married, she must hide her identity again until she can’t take in any longer.  So begins her journey to find herself first in Tokyo, where she comes to terms with her sexuality, and then to a queer-friendly mosque in Toronto.  Along the way, she uncovers others with similar life experiences and that she wasn’t as unique as she thought she was: her community had always been there-the world just wasn’t ready for them.

The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho, 2014.

The story of a young Spanish shepherd boy, Santiago, who longs to fulfill his dream to see the world and the many lessons he learns along the way.  Throughout the story, Santiago meets many people who help him achieve his “Personal Legend” and teach him to read the “signs” or “omens” the universe provides to help him on his quest. What starts off as a journey to visit and see new places ends up being a discovery of the powers we hold within. This book provides a charming and inspiration message to follow your heart and with some ambition, everyone has the potential to recognize and achieve their own personal dreams.

by Glenice Lilje

Content warning:  sexual assault, murder victims, racism, MMIWG, domestic violence/abuse

Stats Canada states that more than 11 million Canadians have been physically or sexually assaulted since the age of 15. Women are victimized at a higher rate (37 incidents per 1000 women) but unfortunately, only about 5% of sexual assaults are reported to police[1].  Family violence account for 25% of all violent crimes with 70% of family violence victims being women or girls.[2] Sadly, only 30% of affected women report to the police. For decades, Indigenous women and girls have gone missing or later found murdered. So why is there high evidence of incidences yet low reporting rates?

Some victims may feel like their voices may not be heard or feel powerless to the support systems that are intended to help them.  They may feel ashamed, embarrassed or afraid that they may get someone in trouble. Others may not have access to services or don’t know how to reach out. However, there are a small few who have found a way to share their pain, trauma and their suffering.  The titles displayed below are stories shared from survivors and from those who helped amplify their voices.

A Mind Spread Out on the Ground by Alicia Elliott, 2019.

Alicia Elliott provides a personal glimpse into the treatment of Native people in North America. The intimate detailing of intergenerational trauma stemming from colonialism, sexual assault, poverty, mental health and gentrification of Indigenous communities. Interweaving the past and the present as well as the personal and the political, Elliott uses her personal experiences and others to display how systemic oppression has and is still affecting Native communities. In A Mind Spread Out on the Ground, Alicia Elliott hopes readers will think more critically about how they got to where they are and that people aren’t always the result of their own actions

Highway of Tears: A True Story of Racism, Indifference and the Pursuit of Justice for Missing Women and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls by Jessica McDiarmid, 2019.

Highway 16 is an isolated segment of highway that runs along northwestern British Columbia, also known as the “Highway of Tears”.  It is so named as hundreds of Indigenous women and girls in this area have gone missing or later found murdered for many, many decades.  Journalist, Jessica McDiarmid, interviews the devastated families and communities of these victims and investigates how this could happen in an area that is over-policed yet under-protected.  McDiarmid shares this powerful story about the continuing failure to provide justice for the victims and serves as a tribute to their families and communities’ unrelenting determination to find it.

No Visible Bruises:  What We Don’t Know About Domestic Violence Can Kill Us by Rachel Louise Snyder, 2019.

Did you know that more than 50 women in America die every month from domestic abuse? If this tragedy is so prevalent, why isn’t it being treated like a national emergency? In No Visible Bruises: What We Don’t Know about Domestic Violence Can Kill Us, journalist Rachel Louise Snyder, educates the reader on the true scope of domestic violence and how it goes beyond bruises and broken bones.  Snyder claims the indifference toward domestic violence trickles down from top levels of society where victims are made to feel ashamed and that they should simply leave their home if they are abused. Through stories of victims, perpetrators, law enforcements and reform movements, the author explores the outdated idea of what goes on behind closed doors is no one’s business is and that society’s ignorance has allowed these dangerous patterns to carry on unchecked.

CRIAW Fact Sheet: Violence against Women in Canada (Short Version)

[1] Www150.statcan.gc.ca. 2017. Gender-based violence and unwanted sexual behaviour in Canada, 2018: Initial findings from the Survey of Safety in Public and Private Spaces. [online] Available at: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2019001/article/00017-eng.htm.

[2] Cwhn.ca. 2021. Domestic violence in Canada. [online] Available at: https://cwhn.ca/en/Resources/domesticviolence#:~:text=%20Domestic%20violence%20in%20Canada%20%201%2025,This%20was%20most%20often%20the%20case…%20More%20.

by Glenice Lilje

Have you ever heard the expressions, the “Sunday Scaries” or that someone has “the case of the Mondays”?  Have you been working from home and dread the return of the daily commute? Purchased a lottery ticket in hopes of breaking free from your 9 -5 routine?  You’re not alone. There are many times where I have caught myself staring out the window, or wished I had a job that required me to travel. Although I long for a break in my predictable work schedule, changes can be daunting. Sure, I may complain about the monotony, but if I am being honest, I am nowhere ready to become my own boss take a little comfort in knowing what my work week is going to look like. But for some people working 9-5 Monday to Friday doesn’t fit their lifestyles or they find that they are most productive with a more flexible schedule.  Though we can’t always be our own bosses, but we do have some control over our work environment.

Think back when the pandemic was first declared.  People had to rearrange their whole lives and figure out a way to work from home, or attend school from home, and some had to become their children’s teacher while also trying to meet project deadlines. The lines between work and home became blurred and “day pajamas” entered our vocabulary. Some people lost their jobs all together and had to either figure something else out or apply for government assistance.  But if you think about, it was scary, it was awkward, but it was manageable.  The pandemic also provided time to take a step back to reassess and sometimes needing to readjust.  For me, I wanted to put my mental health and job satisfaction at the forefront and sought resources to make my work day better. I wasn’t ready to become my own boss, but as I awkwardly navigated through the pandemic, I have been listening to myself more and made a promise to continuously reassess and adapt.

Below are some materials that suggests ways to change up the work week, vamp up your work environment or provide you with some insights to help revise your outlook and/or career goals.

Sustaining Workforce Engagement: How to Ensure Your Employees are Healthy, Happy and Productive by Lonnie Wilson, 2019.

This book explains the importance of employee engagement is for your business, how it can be achieved and how to sustain it.  Lonnie Wilson takes a look into the psychological, emotional and social forces that inspires employees to become engaged and create a happy and productive workforce.  Provided are ways to measure engagement, suggestions for management to help achieve or improve it, and why people can try so hard to create a fully engaged workforce with the best intentions yet still fall short.  The author includes a critical and comprehensive series of discussions, looks into scholarly theories, shares experiences to help explain the mystery of achieving engagement. For Wilson, it ultimately all boils down to whether or not people are prepared for change.

No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention by Reed Hastings, 2020.

Netflix first started in 1997 as a mail-in DVD subscription-based service. Since then, it has exploded globally as a well-known content platform and production company.  No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention follows founder and co-CEO, Reed Hastings, and his detailing of how Netflix created and evolved its corporate culture which fosters and environment of employee “freedom and responsibility”. This book may act as a step-by-step guide of how Hastings has restructured the typical business model and how it has helped form the basis for Netflix’s exponential growth and category-dominating position it holds today.

by Jarrett Seto

Criminal Elements

Stories about crime are fascinating. People are repulsed and enthralled by the crime itself, the criminals, and the motives. We always want to know why, what reasoning could possibly justify what they did? Sometimes it’s a cautionary tale, other times the crime is senseless, and sometimes it’s a situational response. Depending on the nature of the crime, some criminals exist as almost a figure of sympathy that appeals to a particular audience. I mean, if I had to choose I’d pick Ned Kelly or abolitionist John Brown (a criminal in the Antebellum South) over Jordan Belfort, but I’m not a finance-bro. In a way, the criminal represents a collective malice that lurks in the subconscious layers of our ape brains. We’ve trailed off from my point. Different criminals elicit different responses, and in every book here aside from My Sister, The Serial Killer, the criminals have nothing to offer but disgust. These books focus on crime and criminals, and each is very different from the others.

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

This was not an easy book to read. It’s great, and it’s a well written book. But it’s even darker than the title implies. The story centers on a young and brilliant scholarship winning student from her teenage years through to adulthood. Unfortunately you’ll find out that many of those years are stolen from her as she suffers from the repercussions of a predatory relationship that she has with a teacher. The obfuscation of guilt that the predator projects onto Vanessa adds a layer of bitterness throughout the book, and it’s like witnessing an accident in slow motion, bit by bit. You keep hoping someone’s going to hit the brakes but it doesn’t happen.

My Sister, The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

And on to a lighter read. The humour in Oyinkan Braithwaite’s sardonic novel is on the darker side of course, but tongue in cheek and even with serial murders it’s a happier experience than My Dark Vanessa (Again, a well written and objectively good book {Technically, my opinions subjective, since all opinions are, but I think that I’ve read enough books to know what constitutes as a “good” book}, but a tough one). Korede and Ayoolah are sisters that have what one may call a semi-dysfunctional relationship. At least they understand one another. You may find yourself smirking at inappropriate times while reading this multilayered novel. It’s filled with witty writing and unique character development.

Missing From The Village: The Story Of Serial Killer Bruce McArthur, The Search For Justice, And The System That Failed Toronto by Justin Ling

In Missing From The Village, you will find failure in both the police force, and to a lesser extent, a city. The Toronto police forces’ homophobia and institutional racism contributed to more people being murdered and Ling’s book reveals a slew of investigative errors. It seems like the police didn’t want to accept that there was a serial killer on the loose until it was far too late. Incredulously, the killer had been questioned by police three separate times, two of which being in direct relation to the disappearances. Bruce McArthur was no criminal mastermind; he was simply a monster disguised as a human being. It’s a shame that it took the police many more years than it should have to apprehend him. Hopefully this book will open up dialogue and help ensure that (maybe) the next serial killer will be apprehended quicker.