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Life Stories

The Real Lolita

The Real Lolita

The Kidnapping of Sally Horner and the Novel that Scandalized the World

by Sarah Weinman

“Weinman’s book works brilliantly as both detective narrative and cultural history. . . . Weinman does uncover evidence of ‘what [Nabokov] knew …

read about it
The Suitcase and the Jar

The Suitcase and the Jar

Travels with a Daughter's Ashes

by Becky Livingston

"What an honour to be invited to travel alongside Becky Livingston as she deftly navigates the daunting terrain of grief and loss. Carrying our storie …

read about it
Mamaskatch

Mamaskatch

A Cree Coming of Age

by Darrel J. McLeod

“Honestly stunning. McLeod’s clear writing lays bare his complicated ties to his family, his lovers and his country in a memoir that moved and hau …

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Notes for the Everlost

Notes for the Everlost

A Field Guide to Grief

by Kate Inglis

“Notes for the Everlost is the most beautifully written book I have read in ages, and a great deal more besides: comforting, and sad; full of riddl …

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It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time

It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time

Ten Years of Misadventures in Coffee

by Annabel Townsend

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Dreaming Sally

Dreaming Sally

A True Story of First Love, Sudden Death and Long Shadows

by James FitzGerald

PRAISE FOR JAMES FITZGERALD'S PREVIOUS BOOK, WHAT DISTURBS OUR BLOOD: 

Winner of the Donald Grant Creighton Award from the Ontario Historical Society …

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Hope Blooms:

Hope Blooms:

Plant a Seed, Harvest a Dream

by Hope Blooms
foreword by Arlene Dickinson

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Nobody Cares

Nobody Cares

Essays

by Anne T. Donahue

“Actually, you will care about Anne T. Donahue's debut personal essay collection. Because its frank, funny observations and insights into life in yo …

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Northern Wildflower

Northern Wildflower

by Catherine Lafferty
foreword by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson

 

Catherine Lafferty’s life story as a daughter and mother wanting more for her family and for herself is so completely inspiring. Northern Wildflowe …

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Clifford

Clifford

A Memoir, A Fiction, A Fantasy, A Thought Experiment

by Harold Johnson

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Nanaimo Girl

Nanaimo Girl

A Memoir

by Prudence Emery

read about it
All Things Consoled

All Things Consoled

A daughter's memoir

by Elizabeth Hay

Praise for All Things Consoled:

"Piercingly candid and exquisitely written, Elizabeth Hay’s memoir describes the intensity of the love, uncertainty a …

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I'm Afraid of Men

I'm Afraid of Men

by Vivek Shraya

“Vivek Shraya transforms her long-festering fears of men into cultural rocket fuel … Shraya’s dispatches from the frontlines of life as a queer …

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Flawed

Flawed

by Andrea Dorfman

(starred review) Illustrated lessons in self-acceptance. Originally brought to life as a time-lapse film, Canadian animator Dorfman's memoir excels at …

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Going the Distance

Going the Distance

The Life and Works of W.P. Kinsella

by William Steele

“William Steele’s narrative draws us into the saga of a solitary boy growing up on the windswept plains of Alberta—‘six hundred miles from any …

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In Other Words

New English Writing from Quebec

edited by Claude Lalumière

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Following the Curve of Time

Following the Curve of Time

The Legendary M. Wylie Blanchet

by Cathy Converse

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The Real Lolita
The Suitcase and the Jar
Mamaskatch
Notes for the Everlost
It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time
Dreaming Sally
Hope Blooms:
Nobody Cares
Northern Wildflower
Clifford
Nanaimo Girl
All Things Consoled
I'm Afraid of Men
Flawed
Going the Distance
Following the Curve of Time
see all

On the Blog

Book Cover Lady Franklin of Russell Square

Most Anticipated: Our 2018 Fall Fiction Preview

By Kerry Clare

Summer's just heating up, but we're jumping ahead to the fall publishing season anyway. We can't help it: the books are so good!

Book Cover The Cowkeeper's Wish

Tracy Kasaboski and Kristen den Hartog on Writing History

By Kerry Clare

Authors of new book The Cowkeeper's Wish on their writing process, and the books that inspired them along the way.

Book Cover The Suitcase and the Jar

Becky Livingston on Endings, Courage, Uncertainty, and Surrender

By Kerry Clare

Book recommendations by the author of new memoir of grief and travel, The Suitcase and the Jar. 

The Chat with Craig Davidson

The Chat with Craig Davidson

By Trevor Corkum

Craig Davidson has returned with his latest novel, The Saturday Night Ghost Club. It tells the tale of Jake Baker, a neurosurgeon looking back on a pivotal childhood friendship and the secret ghost-bu …

Book Cover In Valhalla's Shadows

Valgardson’s Reading List

By Kerry Clare

A recommended reading list by the author of new book In Valhalla's Shadows. 

Shelf Talkers: Women, Songs, Oceans, Freedom, and Hellfire

Shelf Talkers: Women, Songs, Oceans, Freedom, and Hellfire

By Rob Wiersema

These are all fiction, all novels, but it’s striking just how close these picks hew to the real world, and what is going on in it. Sometimes we read for escape, and sometimes—like now—we read to …

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Popular Lists

2018 Edna Staebler Shortlist

Run, Hide, Repeat Life on the Ground Floor A History of Canada in Ten Maps
see full list

A #MeToo Reading List

Ascent of Women Putting Trials on Trial One Hour in Paris Boys The Red Word One Day We'll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter Policing Black Lives F-Bomb The Invisibility Exhibit Shrewed Pluck The Slip
see full list

Close to the Falls

The Petty Details of So-and-So's Life Falling Too Close to the Falls Falling Angels The Day The Falls Stood Still The Withdrawal Method Cataract City Things to Do When It's Raining Escape Plans The Saturday Night Ghost Club
see full list

2018 City of Victoria Butler/Bolen Books Prizes

Songen Sculpture in Canada A Mariner's Guide to Self Sabotage Frequent, small loads of laundry What the Soul Doesn't Want A Blinding Light On Our Street Speaking Our Truth
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

rob-wiersema
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

kiley-turner
The Recommend

By Kiley Turner

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

kerry-clare
On Our Radar

By Kerry Clare

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

 

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