It’s that time of year again: time for the Canadian Book Challenge, which launches each July 1st on Canada Day.
Most of what I read is Canlit, but I am easily distracted by new and shiny books and I forget to make time to read the classics.
The first time I joined the challenge hosted by The Book Mine Set, I read (and reread) all of Ethel Wilson’s works, along with some books about her. This year I’m eyeing Gabrielle Roy’s works.
The Tin Flute (Bonheur d’occasion) (1945)- Where Nests the Water Hen (La Petite Poule d’Eau) (1950)
- The Cashier (Alexandre Chenevert) (1954)
- Street of Riches (Rue Deschambault) (1955)
- The Hidden Mountain (La Montagne secrète) (1961)
- The Road Past Altamont (La Route d’Altamont) (1966)
- Windflower (La Rivière sans repos) (1970)
- Enchanted Summer (Cet été qui chantait) (1972)
- Garden in the Wind (Un jardin au bout du monde) (1975)
- My Cow Bossie (Ma vache Bossie) (1976)
- Children of My Heart (Ces Enfants de ma vie) (1977)
- The Fragile Lights of Earth (Fragiles lumières de la terre) (1978)
- Cliptail (Courte-Queue) (1979)
- What Are You Lonely For, Eveline? (De quoi t’ennuies-tu, Eveline?) (1982)
- Enchantment and Sorrow (La Détresse et l’enchantement) (1984)
- The Tortoiseshell and the Pekinese (L’Espagnole et le Pékinoise) (1987)
- My Dearest Sister: Letters to Bernadette, 1943-1970 (Ma chère petite soeur: Lettres a Bernadette) (1988)
I’ve read Windflower (about ten years ago) and Children of My Heart (when I was about 13 years old), but the rest will be fresh reads (and it’s been so long since I read these two, they might as well be fresh reads too).
Thanks to John for hosting this challenge every year, and I’m looking forward to seeing what other participants are reading.
It’s a very well-organized challenge and there is even a level for a single book. Tempted? Join here.
Is there some Canlit in your reading stack already? Do you have a favourite Gabrielle Roy novel?
I like your commitment to reading CanLit. I’ve read some but need to read more. I have Coady’s Hellgoing which might be my next CanLit book. Lately I’ve been into Australian Lit, just finishing Tim Winton’s new novel Eyrie which I need to post a review for. What will win the Giller this year?? cheers.
I think the stories in Hellgoing were outstanding. It really felt like she inhabited those characters wholly and completely to create those short works. This doesn’t always make for comfortable reading, but it is a feat to behold. I’ve only read one of Tim Winton’s books, but I loved it, so I tend to pick them up when I see them at second-hand sales, though I’ve not yet returned.
Glad to see you’re joining in again — this is a good plan! I love Roy — I have Enchanted Summer on my next-reads stack. I loved Children of my Heart when I was young, but haven’t reread it in years. Looking at your list I realize that I haven’t read very many of her books at all!
I feel like I have read more of her, but I think it’s because I’ve seen televised versions of her stories. The year that I read Ethel Wilson, we read one of them together: maybe we can time a Roy work too?