by Jake Taber
The Ark by British author Ben Jeapes is a space narrative that many might initially assume to be remarkably generic. It’s a classic first contact story in which a future human race meets aliens of a somewhat equal level of technological advancement, after which conflict and rising tension are cued posthaste. I picked it from a secluded storage box for a quick summer read, but what I found was a depth and attention to detail that ended up surprising me.
By Jake Taber
Steven King’s latest novel, “11/22/63” is a surprisingly rich take on the oft-explored subject of time travel. King, known popularly as a horror writer, has drawn away from the genre somewhat in this work, as he did with his last full-length novel, “Under the Dome”. This time travel story is, nonetheless, heavily steeped in the supernatural. Alternate histories cross over each other, entire cities harbor dark, secret personalities, and the past itself consciously resists unwanted change. It all makes for a book that, without doing anything revolutionary, provides an absorbing read that’s hard to tear yourself from.
By Jake Taber
When it comes to choosing a spot to eat, why shy from the familiar? This is what I tell myself every time I eat at a little diner on the corner of Yonge and Albertus called Uncle Betty’s. While working just down the street from the then-brand-new diner during the summer, this was a favourite haunt of mine after late shifts and for the occasional lunch break. Open since April, it has garnered a strong local following and with good reason: it’s delicious.
The Blue and White 