Poached Egg on Toast

Linda M. Bayley is a freelance writer based in Sudbury, Ontario. She is
the author of Estrangement: Poems.

Poached Egg on Toast is a collection of the best short stories of
Frances Itani’s career so far, along with seven new ones. If this book
proves anything, it is that a hundred years from now, Itani will be
remembered as one of the giants of Canadian literature. I say this
because she has managed to capture so many facets of Canadian experience
and make them universal, accessible. With the exception of two or three
stories at the beginning of the book, Itani’s prose is clear and
powerful, warm and inviting, a window through which even lifelong
Canadians can gain a clearer picture of their own country.

Witness: growing up English in a French village along the Ottawa River.
Farming and fishing on Prince Edward Island. Living as a Canadian in
Germany and Austria. Being the wife of a United Nations peacekeeper.
Being one half of an interracial couple. Having white skin while
visiting Hiroshima’s Peace Park.

Each pearl of a story is grown around a grain of Itani’s own truth, a
truth she seems to give the reader without reservation. Strung together,
these pearls make an incredible gift, a gift of insight and identity
that I was happy to receive. I hope this is a gift that more Canadian
readers will reach out and accept.