Uncovered: The Miriam Conspiracy by Bob MacKenzie

Copyright: Bob MacKenzie

Cover design by Joanne Gervais

I really enjoyed reading The Miriam Conspiracy. This was quite an intense read from start to finish!  It's the latest novel written by Bob Mackenzie. As a Canadian-based author, his expressive poetic musings and captivating novels have been published worldwide and have received numerous prestigious awards.

With the untimely deaths of family members, coupled with isolation on her homestead, Miriam begins to write personal confessions in a private journal that reveal more than anyone would ever imagine.  Her sister, Cassie, is just like a puppeteer - trying to pull the strings, which can feel rather relatable in a family dynamic, but with more sinister underpinnings.  The words off the pages begin to haunt the dreams and lives of deeply curious students who are searching for answers. Many other questions are posed from the ancient past to what lies ahead in the future, if one will actually exist.  

Bob has a keen way of playfully toying with the reader in this fictional piece of work set in the heartlands of Alberta, yet paralleling many realities of the current climate on the topics of political corruption and fanatic religiousity.  

The characters Zach and Evie truly play off each well and together, create an even more complex layer to the overall story, as they begin to realize watchful eyes have secrets of their own to conceal.

It is often said that it is a blessing and curse delving into the fragile human condition. Every page is a deeper dive into a story that ultimately challenges and shapes our own beliefs in a way that also leaves much to the imagination.

*2023 - Bob sadly passed away. This review is now in memory of Bob.

💜Order your copy directly from Bob's publisher here: The Miriam Conspiracy 

💜Other online retailers: Amazon.ca  Amazon.com

Get Lit: Hello, Bookstore Documentary Review

Hello, Bookstore is directed by A.B Zax and where you’ll find owner, Matt Tannenbaum, organizing books by colour, size, front cover, or whatever he feels like at any given time. “The Bookstore” is a little hidden gem in Lenox, Massachusetts and in this documentary, we are like flies on the wall in his shop.

From the works of Henry Miller to modern-day books like Harry Potter and everything in-between, you’ll find a huge selection here. It’s like a treasure hunt once you step inside, but Matt can be your guide, who is eager to share his wisdom, his stories, and has quite a knack for finding you the perfect book(s) that will have you coming back for more.

Then the pandemic hit... Hello, Bookstore becomes more like Hello Computer! Instead of enjoying the presence of his long-time customers, and the delight of meeting new faces that walk-by and enter into the bookstore, Matt makes the hard decision to not let anyone inside. The store is closed for browsing. Visit the website or talk to him through a glass door – this is now the protocol.  It’s impersonal and heart-breaking to experience after you feel the warmth with every interaction that Matt seems to make effortlessly, and that is captured delicately in this film with the simple static shots. 

Once a thriving bookstore, sales begin to plummet, as the joy of searching online for a book never has the same feel of taking it off a shelf.  Like many, we feel the distress of Matt being knee-high in bill payments. Answering the phone since the very beginning with “Hello, Bookstore” could very well be the last time.

"Fiction is the filter through which I see the world” Matt says, and we are all waiting on bated breath to find out the fate of The Bookstore.

A beautiful documentary, full of connection, story-telling and humanity that will be continued for many chapters to come. 

💜Hello, Bookstore