Young Montreal anglophone explores sexuality, finds self, maybe. The
novella that makes up the bulk of this short-story collection is
Holtz’s addition to that particular genre of young CanLit. But the
Montreal-based writer doesn’t limit herself geographically in the other
stories here, with plots spanning from Vancouver to Sudbury right down
to Spryfield (and, charmingly, a scene at a Lunachicks show in the
Montreal story). Holtz’s writing is sharp, with a national focus and
look at lesbian and other queer relationships that’s reminiscent of
Ivan E. Coyote’s work. But Holtz’s stories are cut frustratingly short
by abrupt, non-sequitur endings—signing a lease, a random anecdote
about a dog.
This article appears in Oct 8-14, 2009.
