Well, I’m joining the Canadian Books Challenge again this year. Technically I didn’t finish last year because I didn’t review 3 of my books, but I’m calling it completed because I didn’t realize there was such an important emphasis on actually reviewing the books. This year I will make sure to review all the books I read so I can officially say that I’ve completed the challenge.
Anyway, I need suggestions. I need Canadian books to read! The challenge it to read books by Canadians or about Canadians, but my goal is to read 13 books written by Canadian authors. (I’m also taking part in an Anne of Green Gables challenge so some of those books will definitely work for this challenge as well.
So, lay it on me. What books by Canadian authors do I have to read?
July 6th, 2010 at 6:42 pm
I just bought The Winter Vault by Anne Michaels. I’d say she was a must read for a Canadian Books Challenge. Good luck.
July 7th, 2010 at 5:18 am
Also in this challenge, and I also failed at it. This year will be different! So here are some Canadian Authors/Books that are a must read.
Margaret Atwood (Handmaids Tale, Oryx and Crake, Year of the Flood are personal favourites. I’ve heard good things about Blind Assassin and Robber Bride)
Margaret Laurence – The Stone Angel
Kelly Armstrong – If you like paranomral/fantasy (werewolves, vampires and the like,again I haven’t read anything by here, but have heard good things, she rights both YA and adult fiction.)
Anne Michaels – Like Sheila, I also recently bought Winter Vault (TBR), and I’ve read Michaels previous novel Fugitive Pieces, which was a beautiful story.
Timothy Findely – The Wars, The Piano Man’s Daughter (I’ve read the wars, but not Piano Man’s daughter, but I’m determined to read it this year, it is suppose to be a fantastic book)
Alice Munro – Short Story Author
Carol Shields
Random Books:
Yellowknife – Steve Zipp
The Outlander – Gil Adamson
No Great Mischief – Alistair MacLeod
Cellist of Sarajevo – Steven Galloway
Cereus Blooms at Night – Shani Mooto
To name a few…. I got carried away, but I suppose it gives you plenty of options. Good luck with the challenge.
Jules´s last blog ..Book Review- A Jest of God
July 7th, 2010 at 8:10 am
Sheila,
Thanks for the suggestion. I’ll definitely add that one to my list.
Jules,
Wow! Thanks for all of your suggestions! I’ve read a ton of Margaret Atwood already (and in fact The Blind Assassin is one of my all-time favourite books) but I am definitely planning on reading one Atwood book for this challenge. I’ve also read the Stone Angel (had to read it in high school) but I think I should probably consider a re-read for that one.
I’ve never heard of Anne Michaels or Kelly Armstrong so I’m glad you mentioned those names.
As for Carol Shields, I really need to read some of her. I don’t know why I haven’t yet.
July 11th, 2010 at 5:14 am
Glad to hear you’re in for the 4th! The Diviners by Margaret Laurence has been a long time favourite, maybe give that one a try instead of a re-read of The Stone Angel..
Hard to give suggestions without knowing what kind of books you’re more inclined to read but here are a few of my top picks from the 2nd and 3rd editions of the Canadian Book Challenge.
Shelf Monkey ~ Corey Redekop
The Divine Ryans ~ Wayne Johnston
Coventry ~ Helen Humphreys
The Wildfire Season ~ Andrew Pyper
Away From Everywhere ~ Chad Pelley
Late Nights on Air ~ Elizabeth Hay
Also, though I don’t have review links for Michael Crummey’s The Wreckage or River Thieves they are both excellent reads!
Looking forward to seeing what you decide on for the challenge, happy reading!
July 12th, 2010 at 7:44 am
Wanda,
I have read The Diviners and I didn’t really like it – maybe that one deserves a re-read? I’ll pretty much read anything and I haven’t read any of the books you’ve suggested so I appreciate the recommends, thanks!
July 12th, 2010 at 9:43 am
I would’ve said The Diviners as well, but if you didn’t like it, try another Margaret Laurence (she’s my favorite Canadian author). How about The Fire-Dwellers, or Jest of God?
Obasan by Joy Kogawa is very good, as is The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields – really, anything by Carol Shields is fantastic. If you’d like to try something by a native Canadian, Thomas King and Louise Erdrich are excellent.
Have you read any Robertson Davies? His Deptford trilogy is great. If you want to go a different tack, Guy Gavriel Kay and Charles de Lint write fantasy, and Spider Robinson writes SF, although I haven’t read anything by him yet.
I just finished I Am Hutterite by Mary Ann Kirkby, and it was really interesting. I’ve got it if you’d like to borrow it – actually, I own most of these books, you should just come over. Can you tell one of my university courses was Canadian lit?
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