Linda Leith

Got this surprise note here on my website from a reader of the Literary Review of Canada, who had just seen my review of Margaret Atwood's Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts. A fan letter, no less. Thank you for this, Michael Mitchell. So glad you enjoyed the piece.

"Subject: Margaret Atwood autobiography review in LRC

"Message: "I was only able to read Ms Leith's review of Margaret Atwood's autobiography recently ("Peggy Who?") and just wanted to send a quick note of appreciation. Not sure how much fan mail the review has received, but I was blown away by how great it was. As a reader, my main pet peeve with reviews is when all you get is basically a synopsis; and my main quibble with reviews as a writer is when too much good stuff is given away. So I loved this review.  Just when we were about to be given something that we had to earn by buying the book, it was indeed not given.  "From the pacing, to the info supplied, to the language . . . this review should be course material in universities. "Note perfect!"

I wrote back to thank him, of course, and learned that Montreal writer Michael Mitchell is Canada's foremost horror playwright.