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Author Terry Watada looks at a community in exile in The Three Pleasures

The Toronto writer's second novel is an epic tale focusing on the effects of the Second World War internment on Japanese Canadians.

Centuries-old ghost stories guide Lydia Kwa through new novel Oracle Bone

The latest addition to Kwa's story cycle reflects her interest in Asian mythology and martial-arts movies.

Gurjinder Basran explores love and loss in sophomore novel, Someone You Love Is Gone

The Delta author points out that our lives are, to a certain extent, a product not only of our choices, but of others' choices.

Cultural conventions provoke Pasha Malla's Fugue States

The cast of characters in this dynamic new novel struggle with old social ideas about race and masculinity.

Family history splinters in debut novel The Water Beetles

Michael Kaan gained perspective on hardship after reading his father’s journals chronicling boyhood struggles during the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong.

Eden Robinson's Son of a Trickster tells story of teen angst and magic

“One of the gifts of getting older,” she says, “is that I’ve rediscovered my sense of humour."

Zoey Leigh Peterson's novel Next Year, For Sure reflects on changes of the heart

Set in “a mildly parallel universe of Vancouver”, the book sees two introverts starting to experiment with polyamory after nine years of comfortable companionship.

Our book critics weigh in with 2016 picks

Regular contributors to the Straight’s books section do their level best to boil down another fine year into one title each.

Ashley Little returns to the violent '90s with Niagara Motel

Searching for a home in a hostile world, the novel's characters encounter everyone from Timothy McVeigh to L.A. rioters.

Iain Reid casts sinister shadows in I'm Thinking of Ending Things

The Ontario author's chilling debut novel reflects on tricks of the subconscious mind.