In Garneau Block, author Todd Babiak takes us on an enjoyable romp through life in Edmonton. The book captures the idiosyncrasies and foibles of the city while revealing its heart at the same time.

Even as a new Edmontonian, I was familiar with most of the local references and inside jokes. But the characters that populate Babiak’s Edmonton have universal appeal: an underachieving thirty-something soon-to-be unwed mother, an overachieving forty-something gay fringe theatre actor, an existentially struggling fifty-something philosophy professor and a sixty-something Conservative politico who just can’t ignore reality any longer. The characters, like the city, all have endearing qualities and things that bug you about them. It is hard not to care about them.

If there are any shortcomings, I’d have to say that Babiak’s female characters seem a little thin, lacking in depth compared to his male characters.

I would recommend Garneau Block to anyone looking for a fun, light read. It’s a great way to get a sense of the warmth and humanity of life in Edmonton.

I look forward to Babiak’s newest novel – Toby: A Man.

Check out Babiak doing a reading.

If you like Babiak’s style, you should check out his weekly missives from France where he taking a sabbatical for the year with his family.