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Wonder Is a Lovely Place to Be: 365 Days of Wit, Wisdom, and Irrepressible Imagination
288 pages, Hardcover
Published August 21, 2026
About the author
Brian Doyle
88 books3 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
My very first piece of writing I published myself. I wrote in block letters, on the playground of Angelesca Square after a fresh snow fall, huge letters that airplanes could see, these words: MY BEST FRIEND GERALD IS A BASTARD.
For some reason (it was 1942) I wanted the Germans, who were coming any minute now to drop bombs on us, to know about Gerald. I'd overheard my parents talking sadly about Gerald being illegitimate and how sorry they felt. I thought if the Germans knew about Gerald and his problem and that he was my best friend they'd turn around and go home and not drop their bombs on us, here in Lowertown, Ottawa, Canada.
Of course, they never arrived (such was the power of radio those days) but they were the intended audience of my first sentence. First published sentence.
To communicate in clear, written sentences has been my vocation ever since.
In the middle of a teaching career I began dabbling in the genre of youthful narration in the tradition of Twain's Huck Finn. At the same time, I met the flower of the flock, the estimable, the eximious, the nonpareil editor and publisher, Patsy Aldana of Groundwood Books.
Together we have produced a dozen books and we're still cooking. The books are set in the Gatineau river valley and Ottawa. They are funny and sad! They are read by people of all ages though the narrators are young. The narrators are the age of the child who saw the Emperor's nakedness. They are clear eyed, candid, smart, unsophisticated and inexperienced.
The books have multiple layers, resulting in reluctant readers discovering them while elsewhere they are studied in university courses.
They have been translated in seven different languages and have been awarded national and international prizes too numerous to list here. They have been adapted to radio, stage and film. I have appeared in twenty performances of our book Angel Square on the stage of the National Arts Centre.
There has also been an opera and there's talk of a ballet. I have rinsed out my long-sleeved leotard and am waiting by the phone for the audition call.
I spend a lot of time at my cabin in the Gatineau Hills, sometimes with my four grandchildren and their parents, keeping in touch with the trees and the river and the rocks and keeping my ears and eyes open for those Luftwaffe bombers.
My very first piece of writing I published myself. I wrote in block letters, on the playground of Angelesca Square after a fresh snow fall, huge letters that airplanes could see, these words: MY BEST FRIEND GERALD IS A BASTARD.
For some reason (it was 1942) I wanted the Germans, who were coming any minute now to drop bombs on us, to know about Gerald. I'd overheard my parents talking sadly about Gerald being illegitimate and how sorry they felt. I thought if the Germans knew about Gerald and his problem and that he was my best friend they'd turn around and go home and not drop their bombs on us, here in Lowertown, Ottawa, Canada.
Of course, they never arrived (such was the power of radio those days) but they were the intended audience of my first sentence. First published sentence.
To communicate in clear, written sentences has been my vocation ever since.
In the middle of a teaching career I began dabbling in the genre of youthful narration in the tradition of Twain's Huck Finn. At the same time, I met the flower of the flock, the estimable, the eximious, the nonpareil editor and publisher, Patsy Aldana of Groundwood Books.
Together we have produced a dozen books and we're still cooking. The books are set in the Gatineau river valley and Ottawa. They are funny and sad! They are read by people of all ages though the narrators are young. The narrators are the age of the child who saw the Emperor's nakedness. They are clear eyed, candid, smart, unsophisticated and inexperienced.
The books have multiple layers, resulting in reluctant readers discovering them while elsewhere they are studied in university courses.
They have been translated in seven different languages and have been awarded national and international prizes too numerous to list here. They have been adapted to radio, stage and film. I have appeared in twenty performances of our book Angel Square on the stage of the National Arts Centre.
There has also been an opera and there's talk of a ballet. I have rinsed out my long-sleeved leotard and am waiting by the phone for the audition call.
I spend a lot of time at my cabin in the Gatineau Hills, sometimes with my four grandchildren and their parents, keeping in touch with the trees and the river and the rocks and keeping my ears and eyes open for those Luftwaffe bombers.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Book Review: Wonder Is a Lovely Place to Be* by Brian Doyle
Rating: ★★★☆☆
I recently picked up Wonder Is a Lovely Place to Be, a collection of 365 essays, poems, and sketches by Brian Doyle, and found it to be a charming little book with a lot to offer. Doyle’s writing is deeply rooted in his Catholic faith, but it’s less about preaching and more about noticing the sacredness threaded through everyday life. The book gathers both well-known and previously unpublished pieces, inviting readers to slow down and appreciate the small moments that often go unnoticed—the slap of flip-flops on pavement, the carefree energy of kids at play, or the simple joy found in neighborhood basketball games.
What stands out most is Doyle’s ability to transform these ordinary snapshots into reflections that touch the heart, reminding us all to live with open eyes and open hearts despite life's fragility. He writes with warmth and an almost poetic simplicity that urges us not to give in to despair but to stay merry and alert because holiness is everywhere—even in pain or mundane moments.
The book feels like a year-long invitation to see the world through Doyle’s sacred imagination, with daily doses of insight and grace. It’s clear he wrote wherever inspiration struck—on envelopes, menus, you name it—and his wife thoughtfully compiled these pieces, including some never-before-seen gems, into this accessible format.
On a personal note, I have to say the cover alone caught my eye—it's beautifully inviting and hints at the gentle tone inside. This is a book that’s easy to dip in and out of rather than read straight through, which makes it perfect for gifting or keeping nearby for moments when you need a quick uplift. While I enjoyed the collection overall, I found some pieces more impactful than others, which is why I’m giving it a solid three stars. It’s a lovely read but not necessarily a standout for every taste.
All in all, Wonder Is a Lovely Place to Be is a sweet, thoughtful book that encourages pausing to find everyday wonder. It may not change your life overnight, but it offers moments of quiet beauty worth savoring.
⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️
Rating: ★★★☆☆
I recently picked up Wonder Is a Lovely Place to Be, a collection of 365 essays, poems, and sketches by Brian Doyle, and found it to be a charming little book with a lot to offer. Doyle’s writing is deeply rooted in his Catholic faith, but it’s less about preaching and more about noticing the sacredness threaded through everyday life. The book gathers both well-known and previously unpublished pieces, inviting readers to slow down and appreciate the small moments that often go unnoticed—the slap of flip-flops on pavement, the carefree energy of kids at play, or the simple joy found in neighborhood basketball games.
What stands out most is Doyle’s ability to transform these ordinary snapshots into reflections that touch the heart, reminding us all to live with open eyes and open hearts despite life's fragility. He writes with warmth and an almost poetic simplicity that urges us not to give in to despair but to stay merry and alert because holiness is everywhere—even in pain or mundane moments.
The book feels like a year-long invitation to see the world through Doyle’s sacred imagination, with daily doses of insight and grace. It’s clear he wrote wherever inspiration struck—on envelopes, menus, you name it—and his wife thoughtfully compiled these pieces, including some never-before-seen gems, into this accessible format.
On a personal note, I have to say the cover alone caught my eye—it's beautifully inviting and hints at the gentle tone inside. This is a book that’s easy to dip in and out of rather than read straight through, which makes it perfect for gifting or keeping nearby for moments when you need a quick uplift. While I enjoyed the collection overall, I found some pieces more impactful than others, which is why I’m giving it a solid three stars. It’s a lovely read but not necessarily a standout for every taste.
All in all, Wonder Is a Lovely Place to Be is a sweet, thoughtful book that encourages pausing to find everyday wonder. It may not change your life overnight, but it offers moments of quiet beauty worth savoring.
⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*Netgalley review*
I will begin by saying that once I started reading Brian Doyle, I did not want to stop. I love his appreciation of Nature and of people. When I learned that he had died- I felt a sense of loss that one does not often feel for people that one does not know IRL. I was happy to get to read this book through Net Galley.
This is a book a bit like a day book- each day has a little entry, sometimes a simple funny sketch. Almost all the pieces took me back to my childhood, my experience of parenthood. The pieces are beautiful because they are written simply, evocatively and made me reflect on my life.
I enjoyed this book and it made me feel kinder and more thoughtful than I am normally and I like that. I wish I had known Brian IRL but knowing his words will have to suffice.
I will begin by saying that once I started reading Brian Doyle, I did not want to stop. I love his appreciation of Nature and of people. When I learned that he had died- I felt a sense of loss that one does not often feel for people that one does not know IRL. I was happy to get to read this book through Net Galley.
This is a book a bit like a day book- each day has a little entry, sometimes a simple funny sketch. Almost all the pieces took me back to my childhood, my experience of parenthood. The pieces are beautiful because they are written simply, evocatively and made me reflect on my life.
I enjoyed this book and it made me feel kinder and more thoughtful than I am normally and I like that. I wish I had known Brian IRL but knowing his words will have to suffice.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews