Pat Sullivan (Author of In the Frame)

Pat Sullivan is now following Marian Dodds's reviews
Jul 24, 2026 10:32AM · like
Pat Sullivan liked Marian Dodds's review of In the Frame: "In the Frame is an enjoyable romp behind the scenes in a large (fictitious) art gallery in Toronto. Internecine conflicts abound as staff prepare for a major fundraising gala. Midway through this fast-paced satire, hilarious calamities abound and the" Read more of this review »
Jul 24, 2026 10:32AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of In the Frame by Pat Sullivan. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — In the Frame by Pat Sullivan <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Pat Sullivan rated a book really liked it Alcestis from the Grave: A Novel of Ancient Alexandria by Andrew McCracken	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This gripping historical novel immerses us in the turbulent world of third-century C.E. Alexandria. Through the eyes of the narrator, Dorion, we experience life in that polyglot city, a trip up the Nile, a siege at Dura-Europos as the Romans fight th ...more
Jun 24, 2026 07:57PM · like · see review
Pat Sullivan rated a book really liked it Snap by Susin Nielsen (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Have you ever reached the end of your tether and just wanted to let loose? You may have controlled yourself, but the three main characters of Susin Nielsen’s entertaining novel Snap did not. Frances, a children’s book author, Geraint, a garage mechan ...more
Jun 04, 2026 04:15PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Snap by Susin Nielsen. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Snap by Susin Nielsen <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Pat Sullivan is accepting questions on their profile page.
Apr 16, 2026 11:39AM · Be the first to ask Pat Sullivan a question
Pat Sullivan and 6 other people liked Katherine's review of A Russian Sister: "One of the best novels I've read in quite a while. I can't praise this book highly enough. It's the story of a complicated family that includes a great writer, Anton Chekhov; his sister, who has centred her life around her brother; Chekhov's humanita" Read more of this review »
Jan 04, 2026 05:20PM · see review
Pat Sullivan and 7 other people liked Shaena Lambert's review of A Russian Sister: "I had the privilege of reading A Russian Sister three times! Twice in manuscript form, and then as the finished novel. I fell in love with love Lika, the beautiful, damaged, life-giving protagonist. She is so beautifully depicted, and we can see how " Read more of this review »
Jan 04, 2026 05:19PM · see review
Pat Sullivan rated a book it was amazing Cobalt: Cradle of the Demon Metals, Birth of a Mining Superpower by Charlie Angus (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Charlie Angus is the former NDP MP for Timmins-James Bay and now an activist writer of The Resistance on Substack. His 2022 book Cobalt: Cradle of the Demon Metals, Birth of a Mining Superpower, is a must-read for anyone interested in Canadian histor ...more
Jan 02, 2026 11:52AM · 3 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Cobalt by Charlie Angus. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Cobalt by Charlie Angus <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Pat Sullivan made a comment in the group Goodreads Librarians Group — remove one listing of my book topic " I am Pat Sullivan, author of 'In the Frame'. My book is listed twice. One listing connects to books by another Pat Sullivan. Is it possible to have ju ...more "
Oct 26, 2025 09:32AM
Pat Sullivan rated a book it was amazing The Riveter by Jack Wang (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
The Riveter by Jack Wang is a gripping story of World War Two, told from a Chinese-Canadian perspective. Josiah Chang is a logger-turned-riveter in the Vancouver shipyards, contributing to the war effort through his skilled work as the Chinese were f ...more
Oct 25, 2025 12:02PM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Riveter by Jack Wang. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Riveter by Jack Wang <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

Pat Sullivan is now following Marian Dodds's reviews

Pat Sullivan liked Marian Dodds's review of In the Frame:

"In the Frame is an enjoyable romp behind the scenes in a large (fictitious) art gallery in Toronto. Internecine conflicts abound as staff prepare for a major fundraising gala. Midway through this fast-paced satire, hilarious calamities abound and the" Read more of this review »

Pat Sullivan rated a book really liked it

Alcestis from the Grave by Andrew McCracken

Alcestis from the Grave: A Novel of Ancient Alexandria
by Andrew McCracken

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

This gripping historical novel immerses us in the turbulent world of third-century C.E. Alexandria. Through the eyes of the narrator, Dorion, we experience life in that polyglot city, a trip up the Nile, a siege at Dura-Europos as the Romans fight th This gripping historical novel immerses us in the turbulent world of third-century C.E. Alexandria. Through the eyes of the narrator, Dorion, we experience life in that polyglot city, a trip up the Nile, a siege at Dura-Europos as the Romans fight the Persians, and, throughout, philosophical debates that inform but never overtake the narrative.

Dorion narrates his life story for the benefit of his daughter Clea. He wants her to know about the parts of his and his wife’s lives that she has never been told. The son of an Alexandrian woman and a Roman quartermaster, who became a wealthy grain merchant, Dorion eventually took over the family business. His education encompassed both military training and philosophical study. Although a follower of the ancient goddess Isis, Dorion encountered different philosophies and religions in his city’s multicultural milieu and married the Christian Alcestis, a student and excellent copyist.

My knowledge of the ancient Mediterranean world stems from art history. Images of Egyptian art rose up as Dorion describes his Nile voyage to Philae: farmers tending fields, fishermen in small boats. When he met Philip the Arab in Dura-Europos, I recalled a photo of an ancient marble bust of a stern-looking man. He looked like a Syrian rather than an idealized, straight-nosed Roman emperor. The third century C.E. was a time of religious ferment, and political strife as the Roman empire battled the Persians from the east and the Goths from the north. Dorion is our thoughtful, observant guide through this turmoil.

The characters are a mix of fictional and historical, two examples of the latter being the philosophers Origen and Plotinus. McCracken provided a list at the front of the book which was helpful at the start, to get the names and relationships straight. I soon didn’t need this handy reference because he brought his characters to life. The dialogue is natural and distinctive for each person. Dorion banters with the ex-soldier Audax and seriously debates existential questions with Origen. His world is far away from us in time, but very close in its lively human relationships.

Two maps also helped me visualize the travelling that Dorion undertook, not just in Egypt but also in what is now Israel and Syria. His physical journey parallels an emotional one, as his experience of deep grief moves him to despair, then to seek release. How this happens provides a believable ending to the novel, a fusion of the different teachings that guided him. Dorion’s love for his family makes him an empathetic character. Alcestis From the Grave is an accessible and engaging window into a world both remote and universally human. ...more

Pat Sullivan rated a book really liked it

Snap
by Susin Nielsen (Goodreads Author)

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Have you ever reached the end of your tether and just wanted to let loose? You may have controlled yourself, but the three main characters of Susin Nielsen’s entertaining novel Snap did not. Frances, a children’s book author, Geraint, a garage mechan Have you ever reached the end of your tether and just wanted to let loose? You may have controlled yourself, but the three main characters of Susin Nielsen’s entertaining novel Snap did not. Frances, a children’s book author, Geraint, a garage mechanic, and Parker, a budding costume designer, each snapped, in uncharacteristic ways, when pushed to their limits. Charged with crimes, they found themselves diverted to an anger management class and community service. They would never have met each other in the normal course of their lives, but, forced to work together, they become friends.

Each character is under pressure. Frances’s husband of twenty-five years has left her and she acted out on the day of their wedding anniversary. Geraint’s misbehaviour towards his sleazy boss Ron stemmed from two levels of betrayal. We see Parker in an assault, which she apparently puts behind her, until we learn about its consequences later. They navigate serious issues like sexual harassment, parental custody battles, reputation damage, and coping with a spouse’s new gender preference, but Nielsen keeps the tone light. When a distraught Frances drives to her husband’s new home, knowing she shouldn’t, she begs the Google Maps voice (whom she has named Siobahn and confides in) not to judge her. “Recalculating,” Siobahn replies. Fortunately, Frances’s new friends are more sympathetic to her plight.

The novel is set in Vancouver. Frances has a comfortable house in Kitsilano, Geraint is reduced to a squalid hotel apartment in the West End, and Parker shares a tiny flat with her devoted boyfriend in the Sunrise neighbourhood. Nielsen moves her characters around the city, from Locarno Beach to the Vancouver Aquatic Centre to Shaughnessy to the Endowment Lands. A clandestine outing to Hope is proof of how loyal they have become to each other, as they band together to outwit a foe.

The novel switches point of view among the three leads, with Frances being the most developed. She never fails to notice how Geraint’s lips turn red as he dives into a bag of ketchup chips, and she struggles with her self-esteem under the critical eye of her daughter Daisy. Each character is pleasantly surprised when they are able to use some of the anger-coping techniques from their class to improve their lives. There may be a tiger in each of us, as the book’s cover suggests, but the three characters learn that it can be tamed with friendship and humour. ...more

Pat Sullivan is accepting questions on their profile page.

Pat Sullivan and 6 other people liked Katherine's review of A Russian Sister:

"One of the best novels I've read in quite a while. I can't praise this book highly enough. It's the story of a complicated family that includes a great writer, Anton Chekhov; his sister, who has centred her life around her brother; Chekhov's humanita" Read more of this review »

Pat Sullivan and 7 other people liked Shaena Lambert's review of A Russian Sister:

"I had the privilege of reading A Russian Sister three times! Twice in manuscript form, and then as the finished novel. I fell in love with love Lika, the beautiful, damaged, life-giving protagonist. She is so beautifully depicted, and we can see how " Read more of this review »

Pat Sullivan rated a book it was amazing

Cobalt: Cradle of the Demon Metals, Birth of a Mining Superpower
by Charlie Angus (Goodreads Author)

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Charlie Angus is the former NDP MP for Timmins-James Bay and now an activist writer of The Resistance on Substack. His 2022 book Cobalt: Cradle of the Demon Metals, Birth of a Mining Superpower, is a must-read for anyone interested in Canadian histor Charlie Angus is the former NDP MP for Timmins-James Bay and now an activist writer of The Resistance on Substack. His 2022 book Cobalt: Cradle of the Demon Metals, Birth of a Mining Superpower, is a must-read for anyone interested in Canadian history. In 260 fascinating pages, he focuses on the town of Cobalt, Ontario, chronicling its mining history from the start of the silver boom in 1903 to the present rush for strategic metals. By delving into the local, Angus reveals much about how extraction, railway-building, and greed propelled Canada’s 20th-century growth.

Although Cobalt’s silver rush ended in 1921, the town is newly relevant today because of the metal for which it is named. Cobalt has been mined since antiquity but is hard to locate, often extracted as a by-product. Medieval German miners called it ‘the demon metal.’ Tech companies now seek it out for use in rechargeable batteries, smartphones, laptops and electric vehicles. Angus says it is key to a green energy future.

Sustainable management was far from the thoughts of the mining companies that descended on the town in 1903 and created its boom. Angus writes clearly and passionately about the toll the mines took on the settlers, the Indigenous people, and the environment. The book also has intriguing chapters on how women fared in this gritty milieu and the class conflict as newly-formed unions fought for workers’ rights. There are also colourful accounts of Cobalt’s entertainment scene, provided by sports and vaudeville. The town once had eight theatres.

Angus writes with great empathy for the people who struggled to make a living in a harsh environment, against mine owners who did not want to give an inch. He sees Cobalt as the source of Canadian mining expertise that has spread internationally, but now comes full circle because of strategic minerals. He asks if we can learn from the past and create prosperity that benefits all, not just the corporations. The stories in this book will stay with me. ...more

Pat Sullivan made a comment in the group Goodreads Librarians Group — remove one listing of my book topic

" I am Pat Sullivan, author of 'In the Frame'. My book is listed twice. One listing connects to books by another Pat Sullivan. Is it possible to have ju ...more "

Pat Sullivan rated a book it was amazing

The Riveter
by Jack Wang (Goodreads Author)

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

The Riveter by Jack Wang is a gripping story of World War Two, told from a Chinese-Canadian perspective. Josiah Chang is a logger-turned-riveter in the Vancouver shipyards, contributing to the war effort through his skilled work as the Chinese were f The Riveter by Jack Wang is a gripping story of World War Two, told from a Chinese-Canadian perspective. Josiah Chang is a logger-turned-riveter in the Vancouver shipyards, contributing to the war effort through his skilled work as the Chinese were forbidden from enlisting in the armed services. Eventually, Josiah found his way into the First Canadian Parachute Battalion. Most of the novel focuses on his training and fighting as the Allied forces churn their way east to Berlin. The book covers the period from 1942 to early 1946.

Josiah has fallen in love with Poppy Miller, an exuberant, confident beauty who also worked at the shipyards. She did not want him to leave, and their letters and rare phone calls shakily maintain their romance over the distance and experience that separate them. Josiah is fully committed to her, often summoning a memory of their brief time together to bolster his morale as he lies in a wet trench or marches along muddy roads.

Wang immerses us in Josiah’s story with a short prologue: we are in the airplane with him as he is about to jump. We feel it viscerally: being in the plane is like being in “a tin can batted around by a bear.” We quickly discern that this is D-day and he will land in Normandy. Then the book goes back two years for the backstory—Josiah at the shipyards, his relationship with Poppy, and the gritty reality of his training at various Canadian bases and one American one. This was Fort Benning, Georgia, at that time the only base for training paratroopers in North America. Josiah has encountered racism in Vancouver, and knew he always stood out among his fellow soldiers. In Georgia, his complicated feelings come to the fore as he didn’t know whether he belonged with the segregated Black servicemen or with the Canadians.

Historical fiction always faces the challenge of providing the reader with enough details for immersion in the period, without overwhelming her. Wang has accomplished this successfully. I learned a lot, while maintaining emotional engagement. I flinched at the visceral descriptions of combat and empathized with Josiah and Poppy in their separation.

The Riveter introduced me to another untold story of Canadian World War Two history. I’m sure there are many more, and I recommend this one. ...more

Pat’s Year In Books

Pat Sullivan’s Followers (17)

Pat’s Bookshelves

Pat’s Friends (1)

Pat Sullivan

Goodreads Author

Learn more
Ask the Author

Combine Editions
Pat Sullivan’s books

10 posts
Pat Sullivan's Blog

Short Review: Snap by Susin Nielsen

rss
Pat’s Recent Updates

See a Problem?

Preview — In the Frame by Pat Sullivan

See a Problem?

Preview — Snap by Susin Nielsen

See a Problem?

Preview — Cobalt by Charlie Angus

See a Problem?

Preview — The Riveter by Jack Wang

recent posts
Pat’s Groups

Pat’s Friend Comments

Pat Sullivan’s Followers (17)

Pat Sullivan

Goodreads Author

rssPat’s Recent Updates

See a Problem?

Preview — In the Frame by Pat Sullivan

See a Problem?

Preview — Snap by Susin Nielsen

See a Problem?

Preview — Cobalt by Charlie Angus

See a Problem?

Preview — The Riveter by Jack Wang

rss
Pat’s Recent Updates