REVIEWS OF
​DAVID G GRADE 3

by Shelley A. Leedahl

"Regina writer David Robert Loblaw has published his first book in a series of memoirs, and it’s quite the romp.

A memoir is only as interesting as its characters, and Loblaw’s family has – well, character! Yvette, a kleptomaniac whose tongue is a “hilarious moral machete,” has young David read the most scintillating bits of the Bible aloud to her laughing friends.

Loblaw, who’s ventured into stand-up comedy, writes that his sister’s “clinical dissection of people [ie: nuns] is an art form”.

​You’re a funny man, David Robert Loblaw. And not a bad writer, either."

​Read the full review here.
SASK BOOK AWARDS NOMINEE BIO:
"In his accomplished debut memoir, David Robert Loblaw weaves a poignant, vulnerable, and laugh-out-loud funny tale, recounting his upbringing in a staunchly Catholic family living on the Canadian prairies. David G Grade 3 is a snapshot in time that illustrates the complex relationships of one family intersecting with faith, duty, and expectations. Loblaw uses profound humour and unflinching sincerity to recount his truth and to pay homage to two women who were major contributors in shaping his remarkable outlook on life."
"This is a painfully funny love story that honours a brave mother who made hard choices for all the right reasons. Very enjoyable."
- S.R.
- read review on Goodreads here
"Funny, insightful, extremely Saskatchewan story."
- P.B.
- read review on Goodreads here
​"Some of these stories will make you laugh, it is true, but some will make you cry or rage. Some will make you argue with the writer. Most will make you think and remember."
- I.C.
- read full review on Amazon.ca here
"Took me awhile to get through, as at times I had to stop. Stop and cry. Stop and laugh. Your writing reminds me of David Sedaris. An amazing combination of human truth with gritty humour."
- J.B.
- from email
"A fine memoir, filled with intimate, accurate detail and raw emotional honesty that vividly portrays growing up in the 1960s. I heartily recommend this book to any survivor of the Catholic education system."
- M.D.C.
​- read full review on Amazon.ca here
​"So many beautiful little scenes around a kitchen table or in a school hallway, vividly described and giving a strong sense of time, place and emotion."
- S.P.
​- read full review on Amazon.ca here
​"I really enjoyed this book from beginning to middle, to end. I laughed, I cried, I did both at the same time. It is very well written and shows a side of the writer that some may never see."
- J.A.
​- read full review on Amazon.ca here
​"You have done a major work, and I commend you. I was very touched with how you weathered the teacher, and so much in your life."
- A.C.
​- from email after the book launch
​"You and your book made me do something I haven’t done in at least ten years — I read the book in one sitting!! I just can’t do that any more — but I did!"
- J.F.
​- from email after book launch
"An absolute gem. Your book brought back a lot of great memories. I was born into that neighborhood and spent all my early years there. Neighbors on each side - Protestant family 6 kids, Catholic family 10+ kids."
- M.P.
​- from email
​"I did laugh. And I almost cried. But mostly I laughed. I couldn't help thinking that if you had used your life to write a book of fiction rather than a memoir, you would have had a bestseller. Memoirs are trickier if you're not famous. But I can see why you wanted to make it a memoir; it was a tribute to your mother and sister. You did the right thing."
- B.H.
- from email
​"It's an intimate reflection of growing up on the prairies, and although it's often funny, I found it more a gently touching portrait of the kinds of families are likely more common than uncommon."
- S.P.
​- Facebook post here
"Just finished. What a treat. Rare for a book to make me laugh out loud. Great stroll down memory lane too if you grew up in Regina in the 60s/70s."
- J.H.
​- Instagram post
"Loved your book.
​Devoured it in a day."
- A.B.
- email from book launch attendee
"Where can we hear the opinions of the people and characters you write about in your memoirs? Do they even exist? Can we even hear their side of the story? Typical."
- O.H.
​- tweet on 06-Mar-2019
"It was such a pleasure to read your book because I could relate to a lot of the experiences. When your new books come out please keep informed as I would love to read the following books."
- G.B.
​- from email
"Thoroughly enjoyed your book. Your emotion came through clearly, as did your love for your mother and sister."
- B.P.
​- from text
"One of my sisters was traumatized by Sister Margaret and still talks about her to this day. I’m going to wait and listen to the excerpt with both of them. I can’t wait to surprise them with your book!"
- I.P.
- from email
​"I was also terrified of the nuns. Were they never happy? Your memoir brings back memories of going to a Catholic school and surviving it."
- from a beta-reader given an advance copy
​"Really enjoyed the book. I learned lots about Catholics, space nerds, and Sask Frenchies."
- from a beta-reader given an advance copy
​"Your memory for detail from your childhood is amazing and your honesty refreshing. The sad parts are so sad, but the resilience of your mom is an inspiration."
- from a beta-reader given an advance copy
​"Have you given thought to making this a screenplay? The whole thing is visual, and the various scenes often stand alone yet in context of the narrative -- making it have film potential."
- from a beta-reader given an advance copy
"I liked that it was broken down into smaller stories instead of a long, 30 year story of everything. It makes it easy to pick up, read a story, and put down. Having said that, I found that I didn't want to put it down as I was invested and wanted to know what happened next."
- from a beta-reader given an advance copy
Not a review -- just an excerpt from my book printed in my community newspaper, Cathedral Village Voice, by editor Paul Dechene.