All published in the season which would make them eligible for this year’s Giller Prize, the kaleidoscope of covers for 2016 is now available on Pinterest, a text-based collection here.
They had me at list-making, but also there are prizes, for lucky list-makers (rules, here). The URLs below link to my review here, on BuriedInPrint.
This list is based on the titles which are on my TBR list because I’ve read and enjoyed another of that author’s work.
Twenty-three = one for each year of the Giller Prize.
Andre Alexis’ Hidden Keys (Coach House Books)
Because his short stories were strangely captivating and this new cycle is such an interesting exploration
Kelley Armstrong’s Betrayals (Random House Canada)
Because the first two volumes, Omens and Visions, were so intriguing
Linwood Barclay’s Far From True (Doubleday Canada)
Because reading A Tap on the Window made me want to read ten more of his novels
George Elliott Clarke’s The Motorcyclist (HarperCollins)
Because I don’t even have words for how much I loved Whylah Falls
Emma Donoghue’s The Wonder (HarperCollins)
Because even though I didn’t love Room, I did love Kissing the Witch
Terry Fallis’ Poles Apart (McClelland & Stewart)
Because he’s made me smile before, say with No Relation
Darren Greer’s Advocate (Cormorant)
Because his novel Still Life with June is a real favourite
Ian Hamilton’s Princeling of Nanjing (House of Anansi)
Because there is muh to enjoy about Ava Lee’s adventures, as with The Water Rat of Wanchai
Maureen Jennings’ Dead Ground in Between (McClelland & Stewart)
Because her early Murdoch mysteries were satisfying from many angles
Shari LaPeña’s The Couple Next Door (Doubleday)
Because I love a good thriller and Economic Happiness was just great
Kathy Page’s The Two of Us (Biblioasis)
Because the stories in Paradise and Elsewhere were fascinating
House of Anansi, 2013
Chad Pelley’s Four-Letter Words (Breakwater Books)
Because his first two novels engaged me from the start, Every Little Thing and Away from Everywhere
Iain Reid’s I’m Thinking of Ending Things (Simon & Schuster)
Because despite full-hearted resistance, I was totally drawn into The Truth about Luck
David Adams Richards’ Principals to Live By (Doubleday)
Because even when I try to stop reading his sad stories, I keep reading another, like Crimes Against My Brother
Edward Riche’s Today I Learned It Was You (House of Anansi)
Because he made me smile with Easy to Like
Nicholas Ruddock’s Night Ambulance (Breakwater Books)
Because The Parabolist kept me turning pages
John Steffler’s Geman Mills (Gaspereau)
Because The Afterlife of George Cartwright was so fine
Yasuko Thanh’s Mysterious Fragrance of the Yellow Mountains (Hamish Hamilton)
Because her debut short story collection, Floating like the Dead, was very accomplished
Richard Van Camp’s Night Moves (Enfield & Wizenty)
Because he’s one of my MRE Authors, beginning with Godless But Loyal to Heaven
Great Plains Publications – Enfield & Wizenty, 2012
M.G. Vassanji’s Nostalgia (Doubleday)
Because from No New Land to And Home Was Kariakoo, he tells such good stories
Russell Wangersky’s The Path of Most Resistance (House of Anansi)
Because I still remember some of the stories in Whirl Away
Richard B. Wright’s Nightfall (Simon & Schuster)
Because Clara Callan is an ATF and Mr. Shakespeare’s Bastard stood out
Alissa York’s The Naturalist (Random House Canada)
Because Fauna was one of my favourite books of that reading year
McClelland & Stewart, 1991
Next time: another list, a shorter one, on Pinterest, with a surprise theme.
Are you Crazy For Canlit? What’s on YOUR list?
I love your lists!
I just finished reading The Couple Next Door and could hardly put it down. I don’t read a lot of thrillers, though, so it could be that I don’t know what I’m talking about. But I thought it was good!
The Motorcyclist… hmm… I’m a little worried that I’m not going to make it through that one. I read about 50 pages about a week ago, but haven’t picked it up since. It’s not the writing, obviously. If you read it, I’ll be very interested in hearing what you think. Maybe I’ll take it camping with me this week…
I really want to read Chad Pelley’s book (as you might already know?)!
Have you heard George Elliott Clarke on “The Next Chapter” with Shelagh Rogers? I’ve heard three interviews, IIRC, and they are what got me reading his work. His voice. His enthusiasm. His exuberance. Just amazing. In one of the interviews (from around 2010, maybe) he spoke of his father and that, combined with the sense of his being which comes through when he speaks, is what had me so interested in The Motorcyclist. But I really don’t know if it’d be a good starting point. Have you tried anything else of his?
As for the LaPena, I don’t think you’re alone. And I’m wondering if she is really a thriller-writer just as you’re wondering if you are a real thriller-reader. Happiness Economics was a pretty traditional (but quite amusing, in a quiet-smart-funny way, not a slapsticky way) story. But I am really looking forward to The Couple Next Door. And the new Iain Reid, although maybe I should try to spread them out, so I don’t get too thrilled all at once! I have the idea of Elisabeth de Mariaffi’s The Devil You Know would make an nice addition to the club. And Robert Wiersema’s The Bedtime Story. And Todd Babiak’s Come Barbarians. And James Grainger’s. And. And. And. Oh no. Look what you’ve done. This is now a list within a list. Gah.
A couple of years ago I read George and Rue, and I loved it. So, I was also pretty excited to hear he had another novel out, and even more excited that it was based on the life of his father. But, now I’m thinking I might not have liked his father very much. Or maybe it was just the ‘times’, and I wouldn’t have liked many men back then. Or maybe I don’t care about motorcycles and what a chick magnet they are. I would like to keep reading it to see if there is much about his mother, or if it is all his father, but I haven’t been able to pick it back up yet because of all the other good books to read!
My understanding is that it was more about GEC’s efforts to understand and acknowledge his father (more so than anyone else), so maybe it’s just not the best match for you, given that you obviously loved some of his other writing. I can wholeheartedly recommend Whylah Falls, and did you know that The Execution Poems is about the same incident as George and Rue (G&R is in my “soon” stack!)? Even though I felt like I missed a lot of the craft and artistry of The Execution Poems, I still really liked reading it.
I read Execution Poems right after reading G&R, which really helped me to understand what I was reading. Poetry’s not my strong suit.
I own Whylah Falls, but haven’t read it yet, because I’m afraid of the poetry. But I feel a bit braver knowing that you recommend it. 🙂
I was preparing a similar list for my blog hen I received this post. Twenty-three?! I read a lot of Canadian literature, I have read only thirteen of the authors previously. (We do have some overlap). I may be too embarrassed to post!
No, no, NO. You MUST post your list, Debbie. Pleeeeeeze. (And I was just aiming for 23 because it matches the Giller year.)
hah, I love making lists too! And I have discovered a recent love for Canadian Lit, mostly due to a few bloggers who are amazing people and read great books.
I love hos diverse Canadian literature is as well! Admittedly, I’m not an expert on CanLit, but the Canadian bloggers I follow always feature diverse and eclectic lists of books and authors.
I haven’t read a single sentence by Van Camp, but I’m still looking for more “MRE” authors. I like that acronym, so I’m using it occasionally. Ok? Thanks! 🙂
Hi Naz! In my opinion, you’ve just found the best CanLit blog there is! 🙂
Naomi! Too kind! 🙂
Why, of course: I love the idea that MRE is out travelling around and making trouble with people’s TBRs! 🙂
If you haven’t yet discovered Richard van Camp, might I suggest The Lesser Blessed as an intro? It’s a short novel, for one, and it’s also been made into a independent film, so it’s more readily available than some of his other volumes, and it really gets under the skin of being a teenager (it’s not YA, technically, but could be read and enjoyed by young adults).
One thing that I really love about his work is that characters migrate, so you might meet them in one book and then re-discover them in another. I never get tired of that!
Yes, thank you! I will make a note to start with The Lesser Blessed. 😀
If I hear that you’re heading in that direction, I might join you, for a re-read. It’s such a good story!
Interesting titles
They are, aren’t they!