312 ratings | 204 reviews | avg rating:3.89

Mary Soderstrom’s Followers (78)

Mary’s Bookshelves

to-read (9)
currently-reading (1)
read (312)

Mary’s Friends (317)

Magdelanye

5,784 books | 109 friends

Blaine DeSantis

1,439 books | 1,041 friends

Sonja Rosa Lisa ♡

5,508 books | 3,809 friends

P.E.

3,255 books | 267 friends

The Reading Bibliophile

5,205 books | 434 friends

Miwa

2,561 books | 94 friends

Jean

2,947 books | 99 friends

Bora Kind

1,109 books | 18 friends

More friends…

Mary Soderstrom

Goodreads Author

Website

http://marysoderstrom.blogspot.ca/

Twitter

frenemynations

Genre

Nonfiction, Literature & Fiction, Social Sciences

Member Since

June 2012

edit data

Mary Soderstrom is a Montreal-based writer of fiction and non-fiction whose next book--her 18th--Against the Seas: Saving Civilizations from Rising Waters was published by Dundurn Press in February 2023. It follows in the footsteps of Concrete: From Ancient Origins to a Problematic Future {October 2020. University of Regina Press.} That book brings to life the story of concrete's glorious past, extravagant present and problematic future with careful research, lively anecdote, and thoughtful reflection.

In 2019 the Press published her Frenemy Nations: Love and Hate between Neighbo(u)ring States which is an examination of why ten pairs of political entities--ranging from the formerly two Vietnams, through Haiti and the Dominican Republic and Mary Soderstrom is a Montreal-based writer of fiction and non-fiction whose next book--her 18th--Against the Seas: Saving Civilizations from Rising Waters was published by Dundurn Press in February 2023. It follows in the footsteps of Concrete: From Ancient Origins to a Problematic Future {October 2020. University of Regina Press.} That book brings to life the story of concrete's glorious past, extravagant present and problematic future with careful research, lively anecdote, and thoughtful reflection.

In 2019 the Press published her Frenemy Nations: Love and Hate between Neighbo(u)ring States which is an examination of why ten pairs of political entities--ranging from the formerly two Vietnams, through Haiti and the Dominican Republic and Vermont and New Hampshire to the US and Canada--are so similar in some respects, yet so different.

As Katia Grubisic writes about it in the Montreal Review of Books: "Soderstrom is interesting because she is interested... Her frequent asides – musings on language, geology, genetics, twins, what have you – are sharp and illuminating, sparking reflection and lightening the informational load."

Her Road through Time: The Story of Humanity on the Move (University of Regina Press) was published in 2017 to laudatory reviews in Quill & Quire, Publishers' Weekly and The Library Journal which called it "a must-read for all interested in society, past and present."

Her most recent work of fiction is River Music, a novel published by Cormorant Book in May 2015. In fall 2013 Oberon Press brought out her collection of short stories, Desire Lines: Stories of Love and Geography. Her last non-fiction book was Making Waves: The Continuing Portuguese Adventure (Véhicule Press, 2010) . Cormorant published her novel The Violets of Usambara in 2008. About a Canadian politician who is kidnapped in the Great Lakes Region of Africa, it is particularly relevant now in an era of terrorism around the world.

Her blog about books draws on her decades of reading, writing, reviewing and discussing: Not So Solitary a Pleasure (http://notsosolitaryapleasure.blogspo...) And for nearly a decade she has maintained an eclectic chronicle about politics, nature, cities and life, Recreating Eden (http://marysoderstrom.blogspot.com) ...more

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask Mary Soderstrom questions, please sign up.

Combine Editions
Mary Soderstrom’s books

Average rating: 3.68 · 191 ratings · 56 reviews · 25 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Walkable City: From Haussmann's Boulevards to Jane Jacobs' Streets and Beyond 3.47 avg rating — 62 ratings — published 2008 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Against the Seas: Saving Civilizations from Rising Waters 4.19 avg rating — 21 ratings — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Road Through Time: The Story of Humanity on the Move really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 15 ratings — published 2017 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Concrete: From Ancient Origins to a Problematic Future 4.17 avg rating — 12 ratings — published 2020 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	After Surfing Ocean Beach 3.36 avg rating — 14 ratings — published 2004 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	River Music 3.62 avg rating — 13 ratings — published 2015	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Frenemy Nations: Love and Hate Between Neighbo(u)ring States 3.67 avg rating — 12 ratings — published 2019 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Violets of Usambara 3.50 avg rating — 12 ratings — published 2008	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Green City: People, Nature, & Urban Places liked it 3.00 avg rating — 9 ratings — published 2006 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Making Waves: The Continuing Portuguese Adventure 4.20 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 2011	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Mary Soderstrom…

1133 posts
Mary Soderstrom's Blog

Saturday Photo: Smoking Toilets?

A young friend went running to his mother one morning this week, shouting "Come quick, the toilet is smoking!"

What she saw:

Mary is Currently Reading

Mary Soderstrom is currently reading

States and Women's Rights: The Making of Postcolonial Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco

by Mounira M. Charrad

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Mary Soderstrom said: " This book is nearly 20 years old but it has much to say regarding current politics in Algeria and Tunisia. Charrad's focus is on women, their legal protections, and their problems in these countries plus Morocco: it's a book that would have been a us ...more "

Jan 07, 2021 05:18PM · see review

rss
Mary’s Recent Updates

Mary Soderstrom wrote a new blog post Saturday Photo: Smoking Toilets? A young friend went running to his mother one morning this week, shouting "Come quick, the toilet is smoking!" What she saw:
Aug 24, 2025 12:42AM · like
Mary Soderstrom made a comment on Peter Panico’s review of Road Through Time: The Story of Humanity on the Move " So glad you liked the book. The chapter on the US and Canada seem particularly relevant as Donald Trump talks about making Canada the 51st state. "
Jan 19, 2025 01:52PM · see review
Mary Soderstrom liked Foggygirl's review of Against the Seas: Saving Civilizations from Rising Waters: "Was reading this in the aftermath of hurricanes Helene and Milton very timely, educational and hopeful."
Dec 04, 2024 06:40PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Against the Seas by Mary Soderstrom. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Against the Seas by Mary Soderstrom <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Mary Soderstrom and 1 other person liked Pooria's review of Finding the Enemy: "A delightful stroke of serendipity. I loved the minimalist prose and the profound one-liners. In just 164 pages, the author skillfully guides readers to unravel layers between the lines. It's like looking at life through a kaleidoscope—a perfect blen" Read more of this review »
Dec 04, 2024 06:37PM · see review
Mary Soderstrom liked Jennifer's review of Against the Seas: Saving Civilizations from Rising Waters: "A good overview of where we’ve been and what we’ve done to combat rising water and climate change."
Oct 10, 2024 08:53AM · see review
Mary Soderstrom rated a book really liked it The Lost Supper: Searching for the Future of Food in the Flavors of the Past by Taras Grescoe	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 05, 2024 05:06PM · 2 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Lost Supper by Taras Grescoe. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Lost Supper by Taras Grescoe <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

More of Mary's books…

Quotes by Mary Soderstrom (?)

“A rise in sea level is not like the filling of your bathtub. If it were, accommodation would be easier and could be accomplished in slow steps that might give people the time to figure out the best way to cope. No, while a barely noticeable rise in water levels continues in the background, the great damage that is done comes more suddenly, when storms whip up waves that magnify high tides, engulfing houses and encampments, eroding cliffs, breaching sandbars, and pushing salt water up rivers and into groundwater.”
― Mary Soderstrom, Against the Seas: Saving Civilizations from Rising Waters

tags: climate-change, nonfiction

0 likes

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Around the World ...: Burundi	9	442	Sep 15, 2019 08:32AM
2025 Reading Chal...: Sam F's 2020 Challenge Corner	189	320	Aug 11, 2020 06:41AM
Around the Year i...: Mirnaja's 2023 plan	6	15	Jan 15, 2023 12:02PM

More…

Mary’s Quotes

“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.”
― Daniel Patrick Moynihan

tags: alternative-facts, free-speech, freedom, freedom-of-thought, lies, lies-politics

425 likes

“To him, all good things - trout as well as eternal salvation - came by grace; and grace comes by art; and art does not come easy”
― Norman Maclean, A River Runs Through It and Other Stories

26 likes

“Don’t walk in front of me… I may not follow
Don’t walk behind me… I may not lead
Walk beside me… just be my friend”
― Albert Camus

tags: attributed-no-source, friends, friendship, misattributed-albert-camus

93311 likes

“Let us read, and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world.”
― Voltaire

8994 likes

“In the traditional Islamic world, the hierarchy of the arts was not based on whether they were "fine" or "industrial" or "minor". It was based upon the effect of art on the soul of the human being.”
― Seyyed Hossein Nasr, A Young Muslim's Guide to the Modern World

tags: art, islam

46 likes

More of Mary’s quotes…