NICE THINGS PEOPLE SAY ABOUT RAY’S BOOKS:

“One of Canada’s finest novelists.”

—Ottawa Express

“One of the country’s finest literary voices.”

–National Post

“Clever, word-drunk, and falling-down funny . . . Robertson is a moral writer and a bitingly intelligent one, a man who writes with penetrating insight of what needs to be written about: beauty, truth and goodness.”

–Globe and Mail

“Heartfelt, funny, rigorous, practical without ever being preachy. Robertson has the born essayist’s way with an aphorism, and his catholic range is contagious: when he pulls in Lord Byron and Jimmie Rodgers as back-to-back sources, he not only evinces no strain, he makes you think of a romantic poet and a yodelling country singer as natural soul brothers.”

–The Montreal Gazette

“Robertson’s writing style walks the line between the scholarly approach of Robert Christgau of Village Voice and Rolling Stone fame and that of Lester Bangs, who rivalled Hunter S. Thompson in terms of opinionated and decadent balls-to-the-wall journalism. Robertson likes to drop frequent F-bombs to remind us that this is no ordinary academic subject, but he never seems to lose track of the idea his readers are looking for facts and intelligent arguments.”

–Winnipeg Free Press

“Robertson’s preface meanders through the bygone used bookstores of Toronto, raises a glass to literature and friendship, and eventually [addresses] the craft of writing.  I loved it . . . The haiku themselves are impacted diamonds, small through either density or subtlety, but either way undeniably rich.  These are modern haiku, urban and gritty, but they seek tenderness . . . Robertson keeps it fresh with humour that never goes sardonic, and an unapologetic sauciness.”

–Broken Pencil