Issue in which the dream review resides.
I’ve been a bit absent from the blog lately, which is too bad, as there are many things I’d like to talk about. Namely, some of the great movies I saw the Toronto International Film Festival last week. But all that will have to wait, as I’ve been lucky enough to get two really sweet reviews for The Dead Kid Detective Agency.
First, a review in the October 2011 issue of Quill & Quire by Shannon Ozirny makes some ridiculous claims, namely that
‘Evan Munday … proves to be funniest thing to hit Canadian YA since Susan Juby … Munday’s unique brand of funny is completely worthy of teenagers, one of the most challenging audiences to coax into laughter. Munday is one to watch.’
What?! The review is really nice, and I’ll add a link once the review is posted on the Quill & Quire site. I’m also thrilled to be reviewed in an issue with a cover story on Kate Beaton (!) and a feature on Drawn & Quarterly. I couldn’t ask for better company.
Next, Vikki VanSickle, the author of Words That Start with ‘B’ and the brand-new Love Is a Four-Letter Word, not only blurbed the book, but followed up with a longer review of The Dead Kid Detective Agency on her blog recently. I won’t transcribe the whole thing (visit the Pipedreaming blog for that), but here’s my favourite part:
‘I am always on the look out for a good supporting cast, and I especially took to October’s living friends — an unassuming, mild-mannered boy named Stacey and the indomitable Yumi Takeshi. This trio of lovable outcasts have some great dialogue and their camaraderie feels authentic … Munday’s new series is a welcome black sheep to this literary family [of books on Canadian history], touching on various historical periods with tongue placed firmly in cheek. Fun, fresh and punchy, The Dead Kid Detective Agency adds life and a good dose of humour to Canadian history.’
Wow. I’m sure the book’s not nearly as good as those reviews make it sound. But I’m flattered by the praise.
