CanadianContent discussion

Hi everyone - we are looking for some suggestions for our February group read about the challenges and benefits of living through the Canadian winter.
BINGO N3

Please add your suggestions this week and we will have a poll.

thanks!

The Tenderness of Wolves is a wonderful book! Not a Canadian author -- in fact, she's never even been to Canada! (She's Scottish). But it's such a great story of northern Ontario / Canada in winter.

The Tenderness of Wolves is a good suggestion, Allison.

It's been quite a while since I read Touch, but there were some very memorable, brutal winter images in it. I don't think the whole book is set in winter, though.

A book on my TBR shelves with a very wintery cover is Tell It to the Trees. A character goes out in a blizzard and is found dead. Not sure if it's wintery beyond that.

Minds of Winter from the Giller shortlist a few years ago would fit the bill here too, but perhaps many of us have already read that?

I would suggest Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice.

Good suggestion, Natasha!

I'll also suggest Minds of Winter and Moon of the Crusted Snow

:)

I would love to read Moon of the Crusted Snow!

Winter shminter! I'm having none of it. I'm reading His Whole Life for a cover that reflects Canada and it's a very summery image! :P

Great suggestion Natasha - I would like to read Moon of the Crusted Snow also.

Megan - Minds of Winter is the only Giller that I did not get to last year so it is on my TBR shelf.

Didn’t Lisa Moore write a book called February? I think, I’m not sure that Minds of Winter was the one that put many over the bend..does anyone remember from last year?

Alan I read “Minds of Winter” because it was a Giller Prize 2017 finalist. I really enjoyed it - the sweep, the history, and the epic nature of the story.

I agree with Natasha — Minds of Winter was a sweeping feat of a book. So we’ll researched. Very dense. I wasn’t a fan of the ending — after all that — but the book did make a big impression on me and I learned a lot. Also got to meet the author here in Kingston! That was fun.

A poll has been added with the two books most mentioned. Please vote for your preference before the 24th.

hi all - sorry for the delay, the February book is: Moon of the Crusted Snow

This book is fantastic and the author is a super nice guy to boot!

Is there another thread to discuss the book or is this the one? (I am about 75% complete and want to be prepared. :) )

@shannon I finished it last night and really enjoyed it! Looking forward to your thoughts.

Please feel free to discuss here, I am looking forward to your thoughts!

Give me another day or two. :)

I'm picking it up from the library today!

OK here is my short review...

Although this book held my attention, it seemed like something was missing. The tension that should have been building throughout the book, just wasn’t there for me. The book did do a good job of teaching the reader about what life in a northern indigenous settlement might be like. The characters in Evan’s family were reasonably well developed however others like Scott and Cam were not. In summary, this one was a bit of a mixed bag.

Hi Shannon,

I really enjoyed the first 2/3rds of the book, but felt like the ending was so rushed. I wish this book had been 100 pages longer to fully develop some characters (Cam, Scott,the Elder whose name is escaping me this morning).

The section about how the apocalypse has already happened to their people time and time again really hit me in the heart.

What I do know from reading this book is that I would be one of the foolish city folk who is completely reliant on others for my food and shelter and would be USELESS if the whole grid went out, especially if it was Edmonton in the winter.

Also, are we posting spoilers?? I'll just say that I'm not surprised that someone was a Wendigo, ans really wished that story line had been flushed out a bit more.

Megan, I agree completely. Also I think maybe you mean Walter.

Also, I did think that there was an nod to the murdered and missing women crisis, with the two girls being found dead. Interesting that they couldn't do an autopsy and what really happened to those two girls.

Yes Walter and what was the female elder's name? She was someone I would have wanted to spend time with.

Aileen! :)

Yes, agree about the missing women nod... have you read Seven Fallen Feathers: Racism, Death, and Hard Truths in a Northern City??? I felt like Canada Reads chickened out by not advancing that book to the long list. Would have been a fantastic opportunity to shed light/attention on the crisis. Was greatly disappointing. If, by chance, you have not read that book - I cannot recommend it more highly.

@Shannon, I have read it! I think the issue with Canada Reads is that the defenders get to pick their book (it's a double edge sword for me).

Aileen!! I wish the book had more of her in it.

The thing that burns me on the Canada Reads thing is that the defenders don't read more than just their book. WTH!

Have you read any Richard Wagamese? Love him... if I had to pick one, it would be Ragged Company

I have Medicine Walk ready to read as we speak. :)
I love Embers, One Native Life and Indian Horse. Basically just everything he writes.

Right??!!! Read ALL the books if you want to be on a show about books.

Also, maybe I should start stock piling some batteries and cans of food. ;)

my library hold is enroute!

Medicine Walk is one of my all time favourite books, although I too have enjoyed almost everything he has written.

I always assumed the defenders read all the books... how do you know that they don't? I have only attended in person for the last 2 years but it did seem that the defenders were knowledgeable on the other books.

One of the defenders last year mentioned that she only read her book and then I lost all respect for the process.

They "usually" read all five books but you have the odd one that will sometimes say "I couldn't read it" of "couldn't finish it" but I don't recall someone saying they didn't read ANY of the other books. Who said that? I am pretty sure they got a talking to afterwards.

Hi everyone,

A quick note to assure you that the defenders read all five books, not just their own.

I wonder if there's a misunderstanding around the process? A defender may well have said they had only read their own book at the launch, since the panellists find out the books just before the launch and so haven't had a chance to read the other titles yet.

They certainly read them before the debates though, that's for sure. We check in with them in the weeks before the show to be sure their reading is on track.

Also a reminder that the panellists aren't presented with the longlist of books, that list is made after the panellists have chosen. Each book selection is an individual curation. We don't force them to choose from a specific list, rather we work with them on suggestions until they find the book that's best for them.

The longlist is a way to celebrate some of the books that were seriously considered, but that didn't make the show.

Best,
Tara

Thanks for this clarification Tara! It is great to have an understanding of the background and planning that goes into this event.

anyone near Barrie? This author is going to be at the Chapters in Barrie on March 9th

He will also be in Quebec City (Morrin Heights) on April 3, and Mattawa River April 27 and at the FOLD event May 2-5. He's got a few more dates to announce soon. I've been trying to schedule him for an author visit in one of my prison book clubs.

Thanks Louise - I will hope to catch him at the FOLD!

I enjoyed the story. I was caught up right until the end. I did find it somewhat lacking in detail. That may have been the point - someimes we have to make decisions without knowing all the facts. What I really did like is the focus on resilience and independence while looking out for those less able.

Waubgeshig is having a book launch in Sudbury on March 16th in the afternoon. Not sure I will be able to make that one, bu the Mattawa River even is very close to where I live.

I am very late to the party as I just finished this book in June. I chose the audio version. I enjoyed the overall story but felt it could have used some better editing as it seemed a bit like a school story with and then this happened approach.