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Books on Music and Musicians

How to Lose Everything

How to Lose Everything

A Memoir

by Christa Couture

Christa’s voice and the things that make her remarkable are so tangible in her narrative: it is bravely open, it is generous when retelling of great …

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We Still Here

We Still Here

Hip Hop North of the 49th Parallel

edited by Charity Marsh & Mark V. Campbell
foreword by Murray Forman

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Music in World War II

Music in World War II

Coping with Wartime in Europe and the United States

edited by Pamela M. Potter; Christina Baade & Roberta Montemorra Marvin

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Levon

Levon

From Down in the Delta to the Birth of The Band and Beyond

by Sandra B. Tooze

“Levon Helm put his heart and soul into every beat he played, every song he sang. He brought joy to people all over the world by sharing the unique …

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People You Follow

People You Follow

A Memoir

by Hayley Gene Penner

Reading Hayley Gene Penner’s memoir felt like I was with my funniest, naughtiest friend, who came over to drink tequila and tell me secret stories. …

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Any Night of the Week

Any Night of the Week

A D.I.Y. History of Toronto Music, 1957-2001

by Jonny Dovercourt

"Dovercourt makes space for all comers — Caribbean and experimental music have long and rich histories in Toronto and clearly illustrates a hip-hop …

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John Lennon, Yoko Ono and the Year Canada Was Cool

John Lennon, Yoko Ono and the Year Canada Was Cool

by Greg Marquis

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Dervish at the Crossroads

Dervish at the Crossroads

A Soundquest Through the First Two Decades of the New Millennium

by Wanda Waterman

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King Alpha’s Song in a Strange Land

King Alpha’s Song in a Strange Land

The Roots and Routes of Canadian Reggae

by Jason Wilson

...maybe the most comprehensive focus on reggae and Jamaican culture in Canada's most populous city.

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Anthem: Rush in the ’70s

Anthem: Rush in the ’70s

by Martin Popoff

 

“Popoff provides a comprehensive appreciation of Rush’s music, focusing on its formation in 1968 through the 1970s . . . This will thrill Rush’ …

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Music Lessons

Music Lessons

by Bob Wiseman

 

“His book is Music Lessons, a wildly entertaining compilation of hundreds of random blog entries. The content covers off-beat recollections, piano- …

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Musica Tipica

Musica Tipica

Cumbia and the Rise of Musical Nationalism in Panama

by Sean Bellaviti

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Harnessing Harmony

Harnessing Harmony

Music, Power, and Politics in the United States, 1788-1865

by Billy Coleman

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Music at the Heart of Thinking

Music at the Heart of Thinking

Improvisations 1–170

by Fred Wah

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How to Lose Everything
We Still Here
Music in World War II
Levon
People You Follow
Any Night of the Week
John Lennon, Yoko Ono and the Year Canada Was Cool
Dervish at the Crossroads
King Alpha’s Song in a Strange Land
Anthem: Rush in the ’70s
Music Lessons
Musica Tipica
Harnessing Harmony
Music at the Heart of Thinking
see all

On the Blog

Book Cover Indians on Vacation

Most Anticipated: Our 2020 Fall Fiction Preview

By 49th Shelf Staff

New books by old favourites, sparkling debuts, and more than a few timely books about pandemics are among the titles that are going to be some of your favourite reads of 2020.

Book Cover Brighten the Corner Where You ARe

Fiction We Can't Wait to Read This Fall

By Kerry Clare

29 books that should be on your radar.

Super September Giveaway!

Super September Giveaway!

By Kiley Turner

Did we call it this because of the alliteration? Maybe, but more because the books up for grabs here are SO GOOD. Enter for a chance to win (three winners get their choice of book!) till September 23, …

Book Cover Crosshairs

Launchpad: CROSSHAIRS, by Catherine Hernandez

By Kerry Clare

"Crosshairs asks us what we will do to resist and build a better future when faced with such momentous and dangerous times." —Carrianne Leung

The Chat with Bahar Orang

The Chat with Bahar Orang

By Trevor Corkum

Bahar Orang’s Where Things Touch is a stirring, wholly invigorating meditation on beauty and memory. Part prose, part poetry, and part critical analysis, the book asks important questions about care …

Book Cover Angel Wing Splash Pattern

Launchpad: ANGEL WING SPLASH PATTERN, by Richard Van Camp

By Kerry Clare

"If your heart needs an ever-exploding series of glitter bombs, please read Angel Wing Splash Pattern. We are so proud of where this book has gone."

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Popular Lists

2020 Toronto Book Awards Longlist

Frying Plantain The Skin We're In The Missing Millionaire The Subtweet We Have Always Been Here In the Beggarly Style of Imitation Artistic Glass Shame on Me Last Impressions Take Back the Tray Mobile
see full list

BE WHO YOU ARE: 8 Picture Books

I Just Want to Be Super! A World of Mindfulness My Hair is Beautiful Little Juniper Makes It BIG Lili Macaroni Where Oliver Fits My Heart Fills With Happiness Benjamin's Blue Feet
see full list

2020 Shortlists: CCBC Book Awards

Birdsong Broken Strings It Began With a Page Small in the City Stand on the Sky King Mouse My Winter City The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota's Garden When I Found Grandma Beastly Puzzles Cells Fairy Science
see full list

Silent Book Club Favourite Reads

Indian Horse Embers Empire of Wild Still Life The Skin We're In The Swan Suit The Testaments Brother Seven Fallen Feathers Washington Black Women Talking Marrow Thieves
see full list

Don't Miss!

julie-booker

Notes from a Children's Librarian

By Julie Booker

Our resident children's librarian columnist chooses books by theme for kids of all ages

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Shelf Talkers

By Rob Wiersema

Indie booksellers from coast to coast tell us the books they can't stop recommending to their customers

TREVOR-CORKUM

The Chat

By Trevor Corkum

Great writers from across the country sit down with us to talk about their books, and the stories behind them

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The Recommend

By Kiley Turner

Authors and avid readers in the know love up their favourite Canadian reads

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On Our Radar

By Kerry Clare

We spotlight books generating buzz all over the web, and beyond

 

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