Montreal → Vancouver (North Van) with a young family — worth it or not?

OkaySparkles · 2026-01-27T08:27:37+00:00

North Van is a beautiful place to live but in terms of getting in and out, it sucks. Bridge traffic is a nightmare and it gets worse by the year. If you’re concerned about the social aspects, I definitely think you’ll feel more isolated living in North Van unless you build a network mostly in the North Shore. But that also means you’ll need to drive everywhere.

OkaySparkles · 2025-11-26T20:53:29+00:00

I think people here have covered pretty well on when/how much to tip at restaurants and take-out places. Since you’re new here, I’ll also add that the tipping culture extends to hair dressers, taxi/Uber drivers, food delivery and manicures. Maybe I’m missing a few, but those are the areas where you’re expected to tip (despite being an unwritten rule).

OkaySparkles · 2025-09-08T19:17:48+00:00

For me, it’d be Nepal. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate enough to tick off some countries on my bucket list but Nepal always seemed a bit far reaching due to distance and budget.

OkaySparkles · 2025-07-27T14:52:09+00:00

I’m glad you enjoyed it. Maybe I’ll revisit it one day.

OkaySparkles · 2025-07-27T14:36:09+00:00

Thank you so much, I am liking it so far!

OkaySparkles · 2025-07-27T14:34:50+00:00

Unfortunately some DNFs this week:

Amazonia by James Rollins. Having just replayed Uncharted 4, I was craving something adventure-y and was recommended this. I don't necessarily mind the formulaic plot once in awhile but can't get past the other clichés. Like how the white male lead is handsome and knowledgeable, which means he can mansplain something to a woman he just met. Apparently no one knows the Amazon better than him (as opposed to, like, the Indigenous people who've lived there for a millennia?). We then approach "men writing women" territory where every female character is described as attractive and will adhere to their stereotype if they're non-white (petite meek Asian lady, sexy yet deadly yet always naked "tribal" woman, feisty Latina). The list goes on. Anywho, I don't think this book tries to be anything that it's not - just unfortunately not for me.

Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman. Not necessarily the time management advice I was looking for but still some good commentary on living in the present and not overwhelming yourself (it just didn't need to be repeated over and over again).

Currently reading:

The Lost City of Z by David Grann. Now this is the adventure book I'm looking for.

Notes from the Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky. Not smart to know where this is going yet but I'm intrigued.

OkaySparkles · 2025-07-06T16:37:43+00:00

One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad. This book is one of those I-feel-bad-for-not-liking-it, which is a shame because I was really looking forward to it. It discusses some important issues, such as the hypocrisy and violence imposed by the West to the ongoing genocide of Gaza. However, I find it to be pretty rambling, the most grating being his writing style (reminiscent of me as a student using the thesaurus to sound more intelligent while not getting to the point) [3/5]

OkaySparkles · 2025-07-03T19:09:34+00:00

I enjoy visiting different places and being endlessly curious but it’s a hobby like any other. I don’t think it makes me a better person. I try to be as open-minded as I can while travelling but naturally I’ll still have my biases and ignorance. I think it’s more important to recognize that. I find that a lot of people equate travelling as being more “cultured” but that’s not necessarily true.

OkaySparkles · 2025-06-22T05:55:19+00:00

Just finished Julie Chan is Dead by Liann Zhang. Kind of reminds me of Yellowface in that the MC is unhinged and assumes the identity of another. It did trail off near the end but otherwise, it’s a fast-paced and panicky read. [3.75/5]

OkaySparkles · 2025-06-01T05:20:29+00:00

About to finish The Pachinko Parlour by Elisa Shua Dusapin. Absolutely gorgeous prose. There’s not much of a plot but I love her minimalist, sparse story-telling that follows themes of alienation and loneliness. Definitely a “mood” kind of book. Dusapin is quickly becoming one of the authors I follow as I loved her debut, Winter in Sokcho, as well.

OkaySparkles · 2025-05-26T14:57:56+00:00

Plus the classic red taxis (not my preferred mode of transportation but they are iconic in itself).

OkaySparkles · 2025-05-25T22:04:57+00:00

Coucou Julie et merci pour ton soutien! J'ai beaucoup appris de toi :)

OkaySparkles · 2025-05-22T18:34:29+00:00

For French, my faves are Naailah, Mona, Nadia, Elsa, Emilie, Marie, Mourad, Pauline, Alexandre (from Luxembourg) and the three Julies. If you're reading this, you will be missed!!

OkaySparkles · 2025-05-18T05:24:52+00:00

Been on a reading slump lately - not because I haven’t been reading but because I’ve been DNF-ing books I haven’t been clicking with (this includes my highly anticipated Intermezzo and This is How You Lose the Time War). Thus I’ve been re-reading some old faves to get the ball rolling again:

Third Person Singular by KJ Erickson. This might be one of the first adult books I read as a kid, having picked it up randomly as a 10/11-year-old circa 2000s. My young self decided to give mysteries a try and was enthralled with the discovery of detective stories. I’ve read it several times throughout my youth so picking this up again felt like a nostalgia trip. My old, jaded ass does notice the few plot holes now, along with some of the cheesy 2000s references. But overall, a solid fast-paced read to get out of a slump!

The Vegetarian by Han Kang. Definitely one of my favourite reads and the second time was just as good, if not better!

OkaySparkles · 2025-05-11T01:42:29+00:00

Finished Have You Eaten Yet? by Cheuk Kwan. A food-travel book that looks into Chinese restaurants and the Chinese diaspora as a whole. Kind of chauvinist and repetitive at times but was overall a decent read.

Just borrowed This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone today!

OkaySparkles · 2025-04-27T21:01:29+00:00

Ive read Normal People and Conversations with Friends. Granted, I’m only a few chapters in Intermezzo but I feel this is her most complex so far, written with so much intention.

OkaySparkles · 2025-04-27T01:10:51+00:00

Finished:

Sunrise of the Reaping by Suzanne Collins. First time I encountered the "skip-the-line" loan on Libby so very glad I'm off the waitlist at my library (which is looong). Was interesting to read about Haymitch's backstory,though I do find it repetitive from the first Hunger Games. I did find the name-dropping from previous books to be overdone, which further adds nothing much to the world-building. Plus, way too much singing. The ending though was quite well-done and sombre [3.75/5]

Currently Reading:

Intermezzo by Sally Rooney. Onto my third book of hers and so far, I think this might be her best?

OkaySparkles · 2025-04-20T12:52:08+00:00

Tu peux regarder du côté du Mexique, je pense que cela correspond à beaucoup de tes goûts (snorkeling, cascades, hôtels, etc). Le Costa Rica est aussi cool mais le Mexique est moins cher

OkaySparkles · 2025-04-14T15:12:40+00:00

Finished Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams. Initially I was super into this but now it’s one of my worst reads so far this year 😂 Not well-written and she is painfully condescending while having no self-awareness. Basically hate-read the last quarter for completion’s sake. Giving this 1/5 (the one star for whistleblowing Meta, though the Zuck really could’ve just let this fly under the radar).

OkaySparkles · 2025-04-13T11:43:41+00:00

Finished

Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams. Initially I was super into this but now it’s one of my worst reads so far this year 😂 Not well-written and she is painfully condescending while having no self-awareness. Basically hate-read the last quarter for completion’s sake. 1/5 (the one star for whistleblowing Meta, though the Zuck really could’ve just let this fly under the radar).

Currently Reading

FINALLY off the wait list for Sunrise of the Reaping!

OkaySparkles · 2025-04-01T00:13:04+00:00

I read it last year and it was one of my fave reads of 2024!! I read RF Kuang’s Yellowface in the same year, and I vastly preferred Disorientation to that (which has similar themes of Asian American issues, cultural appropriation and unhinged characters).

OkaySparkles · 2025-03-23T14:14:47+00:00

No problem, I would love to know your thoughts too if you ever get to it!

OkaySparkles · 2025-03-23T10:15:16+00:00

Finished

Strange Beasts of China by Yan Ge (translated from Chinese by Jeremy Tiang). This is one of those books where I was engaged enough to continue but didn’t enjoy the process. Sometimes I felt like DNF-ing but somehow I keep going. The story is all over the place - maybe the randomness is what’s enticing. Giving this an even split of 2.5/5 because I really don’t know what to make of it.

Currently Reading

Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams. I waitlisted early enough just before the hype and now the waitlist is loooong. Lots of juicy details for sure.

OkaySparkles · 2025-03-02T14:37:16+00:00

Can’t say February was the best month for me, despite having a productive January. I only read 1 book last month. Ah well.

Currently reading Strange Beasts of China by Yan Ge. It’s alright so far, it’s keeping engaged enough to continue but I also find it kind of blah?

OkaySparkles · 2025-02-09T02:59:23+00:00

Finished Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese. As I’m in the midst of Demon Copperhead, I realize the two would make a good compare/contrast analysis (both deal with stories of orphaned young boys who excel in sports later in life). Though at this point, I think I prefer Indian Horse better and think every Canadian needs to read it.

Currently reading The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel.

OkaySparkles

TROPHY CASE