In celebration of the publication of my new book, Yes, Genre Makes A Difference, this posting lists a range of genres titles that I recently enjoyed. Many of these books are recent publications.
Most often, i prefer to read a book before seeing a movie, play or television series, but i chose to read several books after seeing plays, movies and television series I liked a lot.
>>> FICTION
HEATED RIVALRY by Rachel Reid / 2019/2024
The television series, Heated Rivalry has become, to say the least a huge phenomenum. Like thousands of others, I ratehr liked this 6 part series about two rival hockey players, who privately lust after each other. Canadian Shane Hollander and Russian Ilya Rozanov are both star hockey players competing and combatting on the ice. They find ways to sneak off together and know how important it is to keep their relationship and gay identity a secret. There is lots and lots and lots of sex in the streaming series and the book. I read Heated Rivalry with interest to see how page transferred to screen and concluded that the print form is practically 100% faithful to the TV series and the TV series is practically 100% faithful to the the book. Walking into a book store these days, once can notice book displays devoted to the “Game Changer” Series. There are currently 6 titles and one more to be released sometime in the near future. My curiosity has been satsified by knowing how the book has been adapted but I dont think I’ll choose to read the other titles.
Excerpt (p. 151)
Excerpt Shane and Ilya were”opposites in almost every way imaginable, but it was getting harder for Illya to deny tht there was somethign in his core that was drawn to Hollander. Instead of getting him out of his system with their hookups, each one just made them want more. It was dangerous fucking stuff.
>>> NOVELLAS
BOX HILL: A story of low self-esteem by Adam Mars-Jones / 2020
Seeing the movie Pillion prompted me to read the short book (114 pages) that this was based on. The story is centred on a dominant-submissive gay relationship which made for some intriguing insights into leader-follower narrative and ‘raw’ (explicit) movie viewing. The book is told from Colin’s point of view looking back on his past when he first, on his eighteenth birthday stumbled (literally) upon Ray, a six-foot five Adonis dressed in leather. Black Hill / Pillion are immersed in biker culture and takes Colin in a wild ride into the life of being devoted and submissive as a gay young man caught in the ‘swim of sex’. Colin is an endearing character but being under Ray’s spell makes for a desperate soul seeking acceptance (the book is subtitled ‘A story of low self-esteem’.) The movie’s plot diverges from the novella’s premise but both medium takes us into a culture that is both exciting and shocking. The first person narrative offers readers insights into an unforgettable, sad, funny character who over the decades is immersed in sexual education and yes, love.
Excerpts
“If somebody had held up a mirror on front of me at the moment, I would immediately realize i had nothing to offer Ray. Ray had no possible need of this blob.” (p, 16)
“I left school because I was short and fat and tired of being bullied.” (p. 33)
SEASCRAPER by Benjamin Wood / 2025
I’m quite fond of books (especially novellas) where settings are very much featured characters in the story and where people who live a quiet existence in fairly remote areas live with hope and yearning. The novellas Claire Keegan (Small Things Like These; Foster) come to mind as well Clear by Carys Davies and Water by John Boyne. British author, Benjamin Wood tells the story of twenty-year-old Thomas Flett, who lives with his mother in Longferry, Northern England. He is devoted to his job as a shanker, an occupation inherited from his grandpa. In recent days, the gathering and selling of shrimp has become a struggle, but Thomas dutifully carries on, even thoguht he has a dream of being a folk musician, a secret he keeps from his mother. With the arrival of an American film director, Edgar, who wants to produce a film in the seascape community that Thomas knows like the back of his hand, he hires Thomas as a guide. Can Thomas trust this stranger? Does Edgar offer Thomas a glimmer of hope to take him out of the drudgery of his days into a better future? The story takes place over the span of one day in this highly atmospheric, compelling tale. I am so very pleased to have discovered another fine fine British writer to dig into.
Excerpt
“What ties him to the shanker’s life is not necessity, as such – a steady wage could be acquired by other means – and nor is it a sentimental gesture to the man who raised him. No, there is something more essential to it, simpler, but he can’t quite isolate the reason well enough to understand it. Ther’s a kind of gravity that holds him her, for definite, but most days he spends yearning to be free of it.” (p., 89)
>>> NONFICTION
LAST KNOWN ADDRESS: THE STUMBLING STONES OF EUROPE by Kathy Kacer / 2026
I wasn’t familiar with the Stolperstein (Stumbling Stones) monument, Some facts:
> The memorial project began in 1995 by artist Guner Demnig as a way to honour victims of the Holocaust.
> Stones are small brass plaques chiseled with names and dates and fates and are placed outside the last address of the person before being arrested and often taken to concentration camps.
> Plaques are dedicated not only to Jewish people but also those who were persecuted for being Romani, disabled, queer. Not all shared the same fate.
> Gunter Demnig, working with a partner Michael Friedrichs-Friedlander has been placing plaques into cobblestone streets and concrete sidewalks in over seven hundred cities.
> as of early 2026, there have been 116,00 stones laid across 31 countries. About 6000 stones are added annually.
After stumbling upon a stumbling stone in Rome, Kathy Kacer became intrigued to find out more about the largest monument of the Holocaust in the world. In Last Known Address the author tells 13 stories of those whose names have been engraved in the memorial artifacts. The stones bring humanity to those whose lives were lost. Moreover, each stone is a marker of a human story to those who perished and reading these stories brings honor to those who perished in the Second World War and the Holocaust. Gunter Dmnig believed that ‘ a person is forgotten only when their name is forgotten.’ There is sadness and awe in reading these stories of those who were arrested but learning about the families, the friends, the communities, the businesses, the pleasures of those who once lived in freedom helps us to understand history and value that ‘if we do not learn from history we are doomed to repeat it.” (American philosopher George Santaya).
Kathy Kacer is a hero for her writing for young people about antisemitism, the evil of the Nazi regime and the unbelievable stories of courage and resilience of those who lives who have been cut short. Any single historical fiction, nonfiction and picture book by Kathy Kacer helps young readers to grasp some understanding of the horrors of World War II. Last Known Address is a must-read stellar collection of stories that help readers of all ages to dig into the lives of only a few of someone who lived and possibly perished in the Holocaust. Thank you, thank you for this remarkable , well-researched, heartfelt nonfiction title, Kathy. The sepia illusTrations of the monuments and artifacts by Julian Neufeld add to the power of the book. and has inspired me to stumble upon stumble stones should I travel to Europe. Moreover each story in the book serves as a monument to a life lost by bringing authenticity to help me better understand those lives. And as statistics inform us, there have been 116,000 stones laid in 31 countries. 116 000 stones represent 116 000 stories of those ‘who lived here’. In the afterword, Kacer writes words of inspiration
Keep readng
Keep learning.
Pass the history on.
Remembering..
Leone Sabatello: Rome, Italy
Ann Frank: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Ettie Steinburg Gluck: Dublin Ireland
Willy Zimmerer: Frankfurt, Germany
Ada Van Dantzig: London, England
Max Josef Freund: Munich, Germany
Jan and Amalie Daniel: Brno, Czech Republic
Carl Becker:Krefeld, Germany
Matvy, Ajzinberg: Belrade, Serbia
Vera Katch Shiff,: Prague, Czech Republic
Max Windermueller,: Emden, Germany
Salman Schocken: Berlin, Germany
Attila Petschauer: Budapest, Hungry
>>> STORIES
THE ELEVENTH HOUR: A Quintet of Stories by Salman Rushdie / 2025
I’ve read a few books by renowned author, Salman Rushdie and was recently knocked out by his memoir Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder (2025) a recount of the 2022 stabbing that left the author partially blind and his recovery and trauma of the experience.. This new release is a collection of five stories, (not particularly short stories: 20 pages; 80 pages, 74 pages, 60 pages, 19 pages). I chose to read the shorter one’s first. I think my favourite was ‘In the South’ the first one in the collection which introduces readers to a pair of cantankerous seniors, Junior and Senior, rather depend on each other from day to day, as they cautiously approach death. Senior. with two hundred and five younger family members question the value of life so full of love:, “His was a family of mosquitoes, he thought, a buzzing swarm, and love was their itchy bite.” . ‘The Musician of Kahanai’ is centred on a musical prodigy, with a magical gift that allows her to cause destruction of the super rich family she married into. I’m not particularly fond of ghost stories but the afterlife of Cambridge don and his connection with a lonely student in the story ‘Lost’ was intriguing and ‘believable’ (as far as ghost stories go.). This story grabbed me from the opening sentence: “When the Honorary Feloow S. M. Arthur woke up in his darkened College bedroom he was dead. ‘Oklahoma’ describes the adventurees of a young writer who tries to figure out whether his mentor killed himself. Disclaimer: I abandoned this selection after reading only half of it. (Maybe I’ll give it another go! ),The final piece, ‘The Old Man in the Piazza’ is described as ”a powerful parable for out times about freedom of speech”. Language is a personified character in this narrative. So like any story collection, this one was hit and miss for me – even if there was a collection of only five tales where the 11th hour ending of life , and/or death is given thoughtful expression.
>>> PICTURE BOOK
THIS IS A POEM THAT HEALS FISH by Jean-Pierre Simeon; Illus. Olivier Tallec / 2007
Picture books aren’t just for young people (you can quote me on that). I chose to include this title, originally published in French because it is both simple, and inspirational and a thoughtful quest to find an explanation for what a poem is. Arthur is afraid that his pet fish, Leon is going to die of boredom and his mother’s advice is to ‘give him a poem’. A poem? But what is a poem? Arthur searches his house and his neighbourhood to find an answer. Each person he encounters in his community has an answer for him. A bicycle shop owner claijms: “A poem, Arthur, is when you are in love and have the sky in your mouth.” The baker says is is “hot like fresh bread’ When you eat it. a little is always left over.” Mamoud who comes from the desert explains that “a poem is when you hear the heartbeat of a stone.” Each answer is both satisfying and a puzzle that leads Arthur to heal his fish. This book designed to help readers, young and old, reflect on the importance and comfort of poems. I’m so very fond of the expressive art work by Olivier Tallec and his illustrations for This Is A Poem That Heals a Fish are lively, colourful and yes, so very poetic. I love this picture book.
>>> POETRY
THE LOST SPELLS by Robert Macfarlane; Illus. Jackie Morris / 2020
I intentionally seek out new poetry publications, mostly titles that would be connected to the world of children’s literature. Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris collaborated on an outstanding book entitled The Lost Words – “a dazzling original celebration of language and nature” – and I was so pleased to discover The Lost Spells (2020) sitting by the check out counter at a local book store. What a gem of a collection! In the introduction to the book tells us that ‘This is a book of spells to be spoken aloud. It tells its stories and sings its songs in paint in word.’ Robert Macfarlane is a genius with wordsmithing exquisitely capture the world of creatures and places in staggering word images. Jackie Morris is a genius artist, exquisitely capturing the world of two-legged, four-legged, six-legged creatures (moths) portrayed in close-up and detailed watercolour images that often fill the pages. The introduction also offers an invitation to readers: “So let the spells ring far and wide; speak their words and seek their art; let the world world into your yes, your voice, your heart.”
Snippets
Whirl, birds, whirl!
You havoc-wreakers,
thrill-seekers you.
Over rushes, across marshes,
Owl hushes –
Will you listen with Owl ears
for a while?
Circles, crouches, clutches, lunges –
but breaks its power on birches’ branches.
>> SCRIPTS
The scripts listed below are three plays that were my very favourite theatre experiences I had last year. When reading the words, I still had impressions of the terrific actors, the stage setting and the voices given to the dialogue. I would see any of these plays again and would re-read the script to better consider the plot, characters, and themes of each of these brilliant creations.
GIANT by Mark Rosenblatt / 2025
Giant was one of the best plays I’ve seen in 2025. There is no doubt that Roald Dahl is an iconic figure in the world of children’s literature. In 1983, Dahl made explicitly wrote an antiseptic review that the author is not prepared to back down on, even though it might impact the sales of his books. The play drawn on real events is set in a single afternoon in Roald Dahl’s home. Rosenblatt, in his first play, presents an imagined scenario set the author’s British publisher and American publisher meet and try to convince Dahl to make a public apology or risk his name and reputation. The profound irony of this play, published in 2024, is that it presents views of Israel and Jews that are part of today’s news. John Lithgow gave an astonishing performance in this award-winning production in London. Giant is a giant of a play – absorbing, powerful and shocking. It is currently (spring 2026) playing on Broadway.
Excerpts
“I think the only way I’d ever feel truly safe is if I could absorb people. If I could just swallow them and keep them inside me or something.”
“It took a long time for Finlay to recognize that the silent version of Banjo was hurt, not angry. Banjo could be every emotion in the span of a sentence, but when he was hurt he carried it around and held it close.” (p. 312)
“OH, MARY!” by Cole Escola / 2025
Mary Todd Lincoln finds life in the White House – and her husband – to be to be oh-so-boring. Booze and a dream of starring in a cabaret keeps her going, Mary is hysterically funny Cole Escola is hysterically funny, “Oh, Mary!” is hysterically funny on stage and on the page. I laughed out loud when I read this 48 page script. I was lucky to have seen this show on Broadway and witness the unique talent of Cole Escola Yes, the brilliant live performances (and the sensational costume) make thisa unique theatre-going experience. – the funniest play I’ve seen in years! I was thrilled to see another production of the play in London starring the terrific Mason Alexander Park and I still laughed and laughed. The play continues to be performed on Broadway with different performers cast in the lead (e.g., Maya Rudolph, Jane Krakowski). “Oh, Mary!” and Oh, Escola have a great future in world of theatre, with this riotous play, which even the author has called ‘stupid’. Hysterical!
Excerpt
Abraham: Because actually a dead wife would do wonders for the president’s reputation in the South right now. Take the acting lessons, you fucking moron.
Mary: The South of what?
PRINCE FAGGOT by Jordan Tannahill / 2025
From the back cover: “A poppers-fuelled phantamgoaia interwoven with personal and ecstatic fantasies.”
Acclaimed Canadian playwright, Jordan Tannahill received some knockout reviews for his daring play Prince Faggot that speculates that the future heir to the British throne is gay. A precious photograph of Prince George at age 5 with a slight hip thrust pose seemed to inspire this imagining of what would happen if the he indeed came out as being gay and decided to marry. How would William and Kate handle the news? What about the public? How will the monarchy and the world react to a family member who loves partying and drugs and bondage and is in love with a brown man. The play assembles an ensemble of queer and trans performers, each with their story. One can wonder (gasp?) at how Tannahill got away with such an audacious, shocking premise but Tannahill is a gifted, brave playwright and Prince Faggot is clever in its portrayal of class, privilege, race and queerness. What’s missing from the reading of the play are the daring sex scenes, display of nudity and clever transformation of performers playing different parts. The play received enthusiastic reviews in New York in 2025. Will it/ can this oh-so-daring play with its oh-so-daring title be produced elsewhere? I vote yes.
Excerpt (pages 58-59)
Dev: Because you’re protected. No matter what they say or do to you, at the end of the day, you’re still a prince. And at the end of the day, I’m a Brown faggot.
George: I’m a fag too.
Dev. No babe, You’re not. Your a white gay prince. You will never be a faggot.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>. SHOUT OUT. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
PROFESSIONAL TITLE
YES, GENRE MAKES A DIFFERENCE by Larry Swartz
Pembroke Publishers, 2026
The opening statement to my new book reads: “Perhaps the epitaph on my tombstone will read Good Books Matter on one side and Read Anything Good Lately on the other. For the past 50 years as a classroom, teacher, university instructor, consultant, conference speaker and uncle, i have been passionate about sharing literature with people young and old. This new publication is designed to help teachers introduce students toall genre forms as they build skills in reading and writing. This resource can be considered the ultimate guide to choosing and using books to actively turn kids on to reading by exploring picture books, novels, nonfiction and poetry. I offer comprehensive lists of books and present over 150 ready-to-use activities (including reproducibles that will inspire students to experience and respond to literature. Ultimately, my goal is to provide information and techniques to deepen understanding and appreciation of all kinds of texts. Leading Literacy educator, Regie Routman, author of The Heart-Centred Teacher writes; “You can’t make a great fruit tart from a second-rate fruit, just as you can’t teach reading well without first-rate literature.” Yes, Genre Makes a Difference is intended to inspire, guide, motivate and have teachers consider that Good Books Matter.