CanadianContent discussion

Hi everyone - in preparation for Canada 150, I am hoping to promote CanLit. In the spirit of celebrating, I am hoping to spark some great discussion and to write a blog post highlighting 150 favourite Canadian books. Since this group has more expertise than most readers I know, I am looking for your suggestions and will give credit, much like when I highlight guest posts.

In case there are any concerns, my blog is completely non-profit and in place to celebrate reading with a huge focus on Canadian literature. The only goal is to share wonderful books!!

For anyone willing would you please identify your favourite book and why it is the top of your list? Feel free to comment below or email to ayearofbooks@rogers.com

If you want to join the discussion but not be part of any blog post, please let me know.

Many thanks!!

Susan

You realize of course that what you are asking is not feasible Susan. Even the top 10 would require some hard decisions!
What if you got everyones top 10 and see what books show up most?

lol - I will take whatever suggestions you can provide!

I think Anne of Green Gables has to be on any top list of Canadian favourites. It's a world wide favourite in fact, especially in Japan. PEI has thousands of Japanese tourists visiting every year. I also think The Handmaid's Tale deserves to be on the list as well. It isn't all that old, just about 30 years but it certainly seems as relevant today as it was when it was written. Other Canadian favourites are Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald, Galore, Annabel, Sweetland, And the Birds Rained Down, Ragged Company, Medicine Walk.

I second @Diane's votes for Medicine Walk, And the Birds Rained Down and
The Handmaid's Tale. For sure.

Then I need to add these!
Griffin and Sabine by Nick Bantock
The Glace Bay Miners' Museum: The Novel by Sheldon Currie
Unless by Carol Shields
The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt
Anil's Ghost by Michael Ondaatje
The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry

And just cause I can't stop there, I think I also need to add Late Nights on Air by Elizabeth Hay!

These are awesome suggestions, i think my TBR pile is growing!!!!

@Allison, I've looked for Griffin and Sabine and they're out of print. I haven't come across them used or at the library either.

@Allison, Chapters has them still, it looks like. Here is a link to the first in the series. https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/...

The others are available there too.

I also see them pretty often in used book stores.

Okay thanks. I'll check it out.

@Susan-a wonderful idea for you to blog about Canada 150. Here are some of my picks, some which I am sure are not going to line up with the masses, but are meaningful to me as a Canadian none the less. They are in no particular order, but all of them resonate for me.

1) Ann of Green Gables (hands down top choice as it represents childhood to me)

2) The Orenda- This book introduces the deep scar and tragedy of colonization in our country, through some phenomenal story telling (all controversy aside, Boyden is one of my favorite authors)

3) The Retreat- this book has stayed with me for years, the cottage setting and love story, I want to re-read soon!

4) The Gargoyle- my loyalty to a MB author whose story is so unique and haunting- I cannot describe my feelings but they were overwhelming.

5) The Flying Troutmans- Love this author and this book is a wonderfully ridiculous tale that you cannot help but to love (at least I couldn't)

6) The Diviners- I don't know why I waited so long to read this book- it was published the year I was born :) Another wonderful MB author

7) Lost in the Barrens- OK i haven't even read this book, but was supposed to in school, I just don't think a Canadian list can be complete without a book by Farley Mowat! Nature's beauty is synonymous with Canada.

8) Mercy Among the Children- love any books by this author, so full of tragedy and resilience...

9) The Wars- a heart breaking war story, should be in the school curriculum.

10) The Demonologist- I couldn't shake this book after I read it, so for that sole reason it is on my list.

Hope that others have enjoyed these books the way I have- O' Canada, we are so lucky to have such talented writers in our country!

My favourites are:
1) A Fine Balance
2) The Book of Negroes
3) Do Not Say We Have Nothing
4) The Handmaid's Tale

This is an impossible task. But I'll round out my current top 10 favourites for you.

1. The Birth House
2. Crow Lake
3. The Break
4. Galore
5. Unless
6. The Bishop's Man
7. Three Day Road
8. Ru
9. The Edible Woman
10. Elle

Thanks Wanda, May and Megan!! some great choices you have shared!

so Susan would you be just as happy with a list of authors?

favorite authors.
in many cases its almost painful to have to choose favorites of a prolific author.
Rohinton Mistry Timothy Findlay Cordelia Strube Heather O Margaret Atwood , I adored most of their books. Margaret Laurence Katherine Govier Bill Gaston....this is off the top of my head after a little session attempting to peg down a list.
lm 100% endorsing Mays lis

Ooh authors, Michael Crummey, Lawrence Hill, Margaret Atwood, Louise Penny, Wayne Johnston, Ann-Marie MacDonald, Miriam Toews, Richard Wagamese, Frances Itani, Heather O'Neill, Ami MacKay, Lesley Crewe

I'd add Terry Fallis to the list of prolific Canadian authors. I count his debut novel The Best Laid Plans and The High Road quintessentially Canadian. I'm a self-confessed political nerd, so the subject matter of these two books appeals to me in particular. But Fallis had a wide enough variety that his light-hearted approach and often subtle but highly-effective humour comes shining through. Other books I've loved by him include Up and Down and No Relation.

Linden MacIntyre is also really becoming a name in the Canlit world.
I also think no Canlit discussion is complete without Carol Shields and I'll add in Joseph Boyden in there as well.

p.s. amazing lists of books and authors everyone!

How could I have overlooked Richard W and Thomas King? And Theresa Kishkin !
In fact we are so lucky to be witnessing a strong time in Canadian writing there are so many voices that even a decade ago were only emerging, amazing stories, all along the spectrum between fact and fantasy.
I'm waiting for Susan the give the signal as to which form she wants our lists.

I feel like this list could go on forever. :)

You guys are awesome!!! I popped home at lunch and just wanted to start reading but sadly had to go back to the office! I am hoping to get 150 books with a short commentary on your choices but now with Magdelanye's post am thinking I might have to do a separate post on favourite authors too - although 150 might be a bit ambitious!!!

This is a tough ask!!

Here are some of my favourite CanLit titles:

1. The Book of Negroes
2. Room
3. Three Day Road
4. The Best Laid Plans
5. The Birth House
6. Fugitive Pieces
7. Life of Pi
8. Fall on Your Knees
9. Clara Callan
10. The English Patient

Note that this list has gaping omissions! Alice Munro! Margaret Atwood! Alistair McLeod! Carol Shields! Margaret Laurence! L.M. Montgomery! Timothy Findlay! Farley Mowat!

And other, less gaping, omissions: Donna Morrissey, Will Ferguson, Helen Humphreys, Vincent Lam, Gail Anderson Dargetz, Lori Lansens, Sandra Gulland, Stephen Galloway, Marina Endicott, Barbara Gowdy, Frances Itani,

Non Fiction writers! Pierre Berton, Malcolm Gladwell, Romeo Dallaire, Naomi Klein, Jane Jacobs, Stephen Lewis,

Children's Writers: Eric Walters, Robert Munsch, Dennis Lee, Jean Little, Paulette Bourgeois, Gordon Korman, Mordechai Richler, Kenneth Oppel, Barbara Reid

Hoo boy. I wonder if I've helped, or hindered...

Cynthia

Hi all - I am falling short of my 150 books so looking for any more comments about Canadian books that you love! thanks!!

books by Nova Scotia author Lesley Crewe are fun and easy to read, generally not very long. The first one I read was Amazing Grace and really enjoyed it. Have read a couple more and they were quite good, too. I have a stack of them my cousin lent me so Am working my way through them.

Oh well, Susan, I thought you'd never ask! Hahaha.

I'll add these -- you can pick and choose:

Fiction:
Far to Go by Alison Pick
Whale Music by Paul Quarrington
The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields
Birdie by Tracey Lindberg
The Amazing Absorbing Boy by Rabindranath Maharaj
Outline by Rachel Cusk
Wenjack by Joseph Boyden
Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
Frog Music by Emma Donoghue
The Cider House Rules by John Irving (can we claim him? Lives in Toronto, but is American)

Non-fiction:
The Secret of the Blue Trunk by Lise Dion
The Juggler's Children: A Journey into Family, Legend and the Genes that Bind Us by Carolyn Abraham
The Concubine's Children by Denise Chong

Here are some that are five star for me:
Fiction:
The Cellist of Sarajevo
The Outside Circle: A Graphic Novel
All My Puny Sorrows
Tigana
Hark! A Vagrant
The Sisters Brothers
Obasan
Not Wanted On The Voyage
Fifth Business
In Search of April Raintree
Cereus Blooms at NightEssex CountyStation Eleven

Non Fiction:
The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America
One Hour in Paris: A True Story of Rape and Recovery

Here are some of my five star reads that have not been already mentioned:
The Tin Flute by Gabrielle Roy
The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan
The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Buchanan
When The Saints by Sarah Mian
An Audience of Chairs by Joan Clark

Non-Fiction:
A Thousand Farewells by Nahlah Ayed

It would be great to see a good cross section of genres including YA, Science Fiction, graphic novel and even children's books, some of which have already been suggested. May I also add The Secret World of Og by the mighty Pierre Berton.

I did really like Sleeping Giants but I can't really call it a five-star read for me. However, it's one of the very few science fiction books I've enjoyed and it's Canadian. And I DID buy the next book as soon as it came out, so that says something. :)

I also enjoyed our PM's memoir as well: Common Ground. Not a 5-star read, but I did enjoy learning more about him.

The Goat Lady's Daughter by Rosella M. Leslie was a super read
also M.A.C. Farrant has written many splendid books

Jim Christy has written many good books mostly set in BC. I adored his last one.
Ive also gotten very fond of Priscilla Uppal

Lorna Crozier andJoe Denham are fantastic poets and Lorna has an amazing book of poems and photographs.
Kara Stanley has written a moving and worth adding to list Fallen: A Trauma, a Marriage, and the Transformative Power of Music

as usual, I have a very small time on the computer but I wanted to add these links asap

had to curtail my computer session but now waiting for the dentist ÷( so can add a bit, without the links im sorry
Between the Meridians is the Jim Christy book i loved. Hes also got a fun book on unusual houses and some biographical stuff.
Another book i must add is by Freda Malathin ach thats not right spelling, best i wait till Wed when I'll have another chance at the computer....if i leave this page to check, i will lose this.. But i think travel and adventure is an important category so this book will be perfect

I agree with most of the books/authors listed here but would like to add some Quebec authors, particularly Gaétan Soucy (my favorite), and Michel Tremblay, Gabrielle Roy and Mavis Gallant.

home now...@Susan
I have a few more authors that may not yet be on this list. Did not have the time to check. Can it wait till Wednesday when i can link?
Freda Mellenthin is one i mentioned earlier. This is the correct spelling of her name. Love in the Northern Rapids is the name of her book.

Sounds great @Magdelayne - I am hoping to get this done on Friday or Saturday. :)

Allison wrote: "@Allison, Chapters has them still, it looks like. Here is a link to the first in the series. https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/......"

So I ordered Griffin and Sabine on your recommendation @Allison!

@Susan, it's interesting to note that most of the 150 Canadian Bestsellers according to this Buzzfeed list are children's titles. Mostly Munsch!

https://www.buzzfeed.com/ainsleys2/ho...

Allison ༻hikes the bookwoods༺ wrote: "So I ordered Griffin and Sabine on your recommendation @Allison! ..."

Oh great!! I hope you love it! It's a very, very quirky read, like nothing else, but I just loved every single "page!"

not sure if these have been mentioned:
Jacques Poulin
John Ralston Saul
Robert Sawyer
Naomi Klein
Louise Penny
Jack Hodgins
Douglas Glover
Mark Anthony Jarman

Allison ༻hikes the bookwoods༺ wrote: "@Susan, it's interesting to note that most of the 150 Canadian Bestsellers according to this Buzzfeed list are children's titles. Mostly Munsch!

https://www.buzzfeed.com/ainsleys2/ho......"

@Susan - I love Robert Munsch stories - we have read them, listened to them and seen him perform them and love, love, love his books!!!

Thanks to all for these great suggestions... i will be drafting towards the end of the week (but likely to actually finish on Canada day the way the week has been going) and love your books, authors and comments!

I didn't see anyone point out Neuromancer.

William Gibson is a good one to add
Guy Gavriel Kay is another

I'll also add some political flavour:
My Years as Prime Minister
French Kiss: Stephen Harper's Blind Date with Quebec
Lament for An Ocean: the Collapse of the Atlantic Cod Fishery
All excellent reads.

Just scrolled through the list of titles...and it occured to me that it would have been nice to have a preliminary list that could be added without duplicating. But it seemed like I didnt see Joan Haggerty whose most recent book The Dancehall Years was terrific.
Bill Gaston is just as versatile. Maybe my favorite of his is The World but I also loved The Good Body andSointula and The Order of Good Cheer
I have to meet with some live people now to chat about The Piano Maker by Kurt Palka
which could be included as well!

Awesome!!! I will add them into a spreadsheet to weed out the duplicates and will post the end lists!

We had a good mtg with just the right amount of dissension.

At my little rant at how much I loved the book, next time we are going to discuss Steven Heightons The Nightingale Won't Let You Sleep He is also a cross genre writer and I have some of his poems on order at library. He's a very important addition to your listAfterlandsis another arctic exploration. very well detailed.

Other important poets to include:
Peter Trower from the sunshime coast, dead now, an old beat poet
Patrick Lane is another prolific old timer poet who also wrote the brilliant memoir There is a Season: A Memoir in a Garden His brother Red Lane was an amazing poet as well, who has fallen intp total obscurity. I havent read much of John Pass but I believe he has also been writing a while.Same with Susan Musgrave
Carolyn Zonailo and Stephen Morrissey are two other prolific Canadian poets that deserve to be on] this list.

Just a few more that need attention:
Michael Christie (no relation to Jim) is also a hot and prolific short story writer. The Beggar's Garden: Short Story may be my favorite of his collections.
Amber Dawn is not quite so prolific and her fiction still improving, but I really loved How Poetry Saved My Life: A Hustler's Memoir

Do we have Thomas King on the list? And I seem to have missed Richard Wagamese. Maybe they are self evident. But what about Jeanette Armstrong and Wab Kinew and Stephen ReidA Crowbar in the Buddhist Garden
Eileen Kernaghan was one of the early women writing science fiction. Maybe not 5 star but worthy of mention.Helen Potrebenko was also a feminist pioneer of the 60s and 70s who wrote short stories, most famously Taxi!: A Novel and died way too young.
could not find links just now for Thompson Highway or Lisa Bird Wilson.Are they on on the list? and omg how about M.G. Vassanji

ok I will stop.

Oh @ Magdelanye! M.G. Vassanji!! I didn't LOVE Nostaglia, but I did LOVE The In-Between World of Vikram Lall! Thanks for triggering my memory -- Susan, this book deserves to be on your list, in my opinion. I loved it.

nice additions.
did anyone mention Carol Shields
I also hope that André Alexis is on the list

feeling a bit compulsive/ foolish but having a hard time stopping that nagging feeling that there are brilliant authors left out.
So without links please remember Kathleen Winter, Anosh Irani and the innovative poet Dennis Cooley.

Adding Peggy Blair. Love her writing. And Kevin Major for "Near to Heaven as by Sea" on the history of Newfoundland and Labrador.