All My Puny Sorrows

Loved it. Toews writes with wit and warmth and consistent humour that makes you giggle despite the uber-depressing subject matter. I loved how eloquent the characters were — I kept googling the authors and poems and tunes that they were referencing and added a bunch of books to my to-read list as a result, which always means extra props to the book.

I took a star off for all the parts where characters talked about their dreams — can't deal with this, my eyes immediately glaze over. I have yet to read a book where this is handled well/justified.

“The story, he said, it should just move really fast, like pedal to the metal, so it doesn't get boring. Plus it's hard to write, right? You want to go in, get the job done, and get out. Like when I worked for Renee's septic tank cleaning.
I considered this and realized it was the best writing advice I'd received in years. In all my life.”

With that title and that cover (the cartoony version with the orange background) I didn't expect something quite that heavy (no I did not read the blurb or look into it before I started reading). There are some charming moments in there and the writing is absolutely fantastic but this book is HEAVY in a way that feels entirely intentional. There are charming moments in there and they are carefully placed to further the devastating weight of the events in the book.