CanLit Challenge discussion

I've read most of the collection, and every time I've read it at the coffee shop I always get these weird stares because the stories always, without fail, have me laughing out loud. I mean, what novel can make you chuckle, giggle and burst out laughing to yourself? This series is hilarious. If you haven't read it, you need to because you'll fall in love with Dave and his family.

I've never actually read any, only listened to the Vinyl Cafe on the radio. But I can imagine reading, since I'm always laughing up a storm whenever I hear one of the Dave stories. I'm chuckling now as I recall the Christmas turkey.

What are the titles/authors? I've never heard of this before but it sounds good!

Rachelle wrote: "What are the titles/authors? I've never heard of this before but it sounds good!"

The Vinyl Cafe is a radio show on CBC by Stuart McLean. He travels across the country, doing most of the broadcasts from small towns. He tells anecdotes about the town, about people he's met, and reads letters that people send in about funny or moving things that have happened to them. And then he'll tell a story about a character named Dave and his family. He's collected these stories into books (Stories from the Vinyl Cafe, Vinyl Cafe Diaries, Extreme Vinyl Cafe etc.). The website is here if you want to check it out &/or listen to podcasts: http://www.cbc.ca/vinylcafe/home.php

The Christmas turkey was a great one! There are so many great stories that it's hard to pick. I really liked the coffin in the Vinyl Cafe, omg, that had me peeing myself.

Rachelle, you should totally check the stories out. I've never heard them on the radio, but I'm sure they're fabulous. I've read most of the stories, and amazing! If you check them out in a used bookstore, they're shelved under Canadianne, or at least the one I frequent does.

Thanks so much for all the links, Ibis! And thanks for the recommendation, Lola! The stories sound great and I will definitely check them out. Maybe my library has some copies.

Lola wrote: "I've read most of the collection, and every time I've read it at the coffee shop I always get these weird stares because the stories always, without fail, have me laughing out loud. I mean, what no..."

I love it when a book makes me laugh in public!
Thanks for the links, Ibis. It makes it less confusing when there's a link to the author and/or book in the post.

I'm sure this may be blaspheme, but I can read his books but I can't listen to Stuart McLean speak. His cadence is like nails on a chalk board to me. I have to read the books in a Garrison Keeler voice or something else.

John wrote: "I'm sure this may be blaspheme, but I can read his books but I can't listen to Stuart McLean speak. His cadence is like nails on a chalk board to me. I have to read the books in a Garrison Keeler ..."

Eh, sometimes that happens. You love a bunch of books by a certain writer, then, for whatever reason, hate one of their books. I don't think it's blasphemy.

Hi everyone! Just a heads up for those interested, Stuart McLean is coming to the NAC this winter! http://nac-cna.ca/en/variety/event/3938