x
search
Site Navigation
Find your next great Canadian read

Explore great books by Canadian authors

49thShelf.com is the largest collection of Canadian books on the Internet—and an amazing way to discover your next great read.

Let us show you how!

join us!

Hot New Fiction

Indians on Vacation

Indians on Vacation

A Novel

by Thomas King

“From the first page, King’s sardonic and very funny voice leads us to places we never expect to go. . . European and Indigenous history collide a …

read about it
All I Ask

All I Ask

by Eva Crocker

PRAISE FOR EVA CROCKER AND ALL I ASK:

“A wickedly funny, sexy, joyous novel, threaded through with sadness, uncertainty, and emotional risk.” — T …

read about it
The Ghost in the House

The Ghost in the House

by Sara O'Leary

Advance Praise for The Ghost in the House:

"Sara O’Leary's The Ghost in the House, riven by ambiguities and dissolutions, is a story of both love and …

read about it
Hurry Home

Hurry Home

by Roz Nay

“In Hurry Home, Roz Nay manages to tug on your heartstrings while spinning a harrowing plot filled with hairpin twists. A close examination of a to …

read about it
Throw Down Your Shadows

Throw Down Your Shadows

by Deborah Hemming

"Throw Down Your Shadows blends psychological depth and menace to create a story that is both propulsive and thoughtful: a rich, character-driven nove …

read about it
The Living Dead

The Living Dead

by George A. Romero & Daniel Kraus

“The Living Deadis a sprawling, timely, scary epic that honors the zombie tradition but also goes in new directions and takes risks that pay off. …

read about it
Swimmers in Winter

Swimmers in Winter

by Faye Guenther

"Faye Guenther's writing is fully given over to both the heart and mind. Her clear-eyed observations of the secrets we keep and the confessions we mak …

read about it
Czech Techno & Other Stories of Music

Czech Techno & Other Stories of Music

by Mark Jarman

read about it
A Russian Sister

A Russian Sister

A Novel

by Caroline Adderson

read about it
Good Mothers Don't

Good Mothers Don't

by Laura Best

"Running deeper than the memory of home, only the body memory of maternal love survives the far-reaching ravages of mental illness which set a mother …

read about it
Angel Wing Splash Pattern

Angel Wing Splash Pattern

20th Anniversary Edition

by Richard Van Camp

read about it
The House of Izieu

The House of Izieu

by Jan Rehner

read about it
You Can't Catch Me

You Can't Catch Me

by Catherine McKenzie

“One of the Best Thrillers of Spring 2018.”
— Bookbub

read about it
Songs for the End of the World

Songs for the End of the World

by Saleema Nawaz

"Given the strengths of the book, and Nawaz's gifts as a writer, Songs for the End of the World was always going to be a great novel, no matter when …

read about it
The Neptune Room

The Neptune Room

by Bertrand Laverdure
translated by Oana Avasilichiaeoi

read about it
You Will Love What You Have Killed

You Will Love What You Have Killed

by Kevin Lambert

"Chicoutimi lore and Chicoutimi cruelties gush forth almost biblically in a story about the power of children. Kevin Lambert the writer (not Kevin Lam …

read about it
Fair

Fair

by Ed Seaward

read about it
Still Here

Still Here

by Amy Stuart

“Twisty and swift, Amy Stuart’s Still Mine is a darkly entertaining mystery machine. But what will really surprise you is the emotional foundatio …

read about it
Dear Hearts

Dear Hearts

by Barbara Miller Biles

read about it
The Imago Stage

The Imago Stage

by Karoline Georges
translated by Rhonda Mullins

"Karoline Georges doesn’t align herself with the vast community of techno-pessimists. Without slipping into utopianism, she sees technology’s expo …

read about it
Going Dutch

Going Dutch

A Novel

by James Gregor

PRAISE FOR GOING DUTCH BY JAMES GREGOR 
"A book of deceptive ambitions, a breezy page-turner that, every few pages, slides in an observation that ins …

read about it
The Spoon Stealer

The Spoon Stealer

by Lesley Crewe

read about it
When We Were Vikings

When We Were Vikings

by Andrew David MacDonald

"Zelda is a marvel, a living, breathing three-dimensional character with a voice so distinctive she leaps off the page.... When We Were Vikings is th …

read about it
Underneath the Water with the Fish

Underneath the Water with the Fish

by Carol Malyon

read about it
Fontainebleau

Fontainebleau

by Madeline Sonik

read about it
A Delhi Obsession

A Delhi Obsession

A Novel

by MG Vassanji

Praise for M.G. Vassanji

"Is there any Canadian writer who contemplates the meaning of  time with greater distinction and intellectual grace than M.G. …

read about it
The Pull of the Stars

The Pull of the Stars

A Novel

by Emma Donoghue

“Darkly compelling, illuminated by the light of compassion and tenderness: Donoghue’s best novel since Room.” 

read about it
DR SAD

DR SAD

by David Bateman

read about it
The Outlander

The Outlander

by Gil Adamson

PRAISE FOR GIL ADAMSON AND THE OUTLANDER:
Winner, Amazon.ca/Books in Canada First Novel Award
Winner, Dashiell Hammett Prize for Literary Excellence …

read about it
The Certainties

The Certainties

by Aislinn Hunter

Advance Praise for The Certainties
 
“The Certainties is a wonderful mystery, a masterful piece of storytelling that will grip you the first time y …

read about it
This Side Jordan

This Side Jordan

Penguin Modern Classics Edition

by Margaret Laurence

read about it
Forest Green

Forest Green

by Kate Pullinger

Advance Praise for Forest Green:

"On a rainy Vancouver day, Art Lunn lies tangled up in a blanket in a doorway. Estranged from family, the homeless man …

read about it
And This Is the Cure

And This Is the Cure

by Annette Lapointe

read about it
Grieving for Pigeons

Grieving for Pigeons

Twelve Stories of Lahore

by Zubair Ahmad
translated by Anne Murphy

read about it
Pekari -The Azure Fish

Pekari -The Azure Fish

by Guenevere Lee

read about it
Or What You Will

Or What You Will

by Jo Walton

"Walton shines, as she always does, in the small and hurtful and glorious business of interpersonal relationships...this book about philosophy, histo …

read about it
On the Head of a Pin

On the Head of a Pin

A Thaddeus Lewis Mystery

by Janet Kellough

read about it
Never Going Back

Never Going Back

by Sam Wiebe

read about it
The Woman Before Wallis

The Woman Before Wallis

A Novel of Windsors, Vanderbilts, and Royal Scandal

by Bryn Turnbull

“Brimming with scandal and an equal amount of heart . . . a sweeping yet intimate look at the lives of some of history’s most notorious figures fr …

read about it
Under Pressure

Under Pressure

A Lucas Page Novel

by Robert Pobi

"Stellar... combines a razor sharp sense of humor with surgical use of political and social commentary throughout. This is a must for fans of sophist …

read about it
Rockbound

Rockbound

Penguin Modern Classics Edition

by Frank Parker Day

read about it
Read and Buried

Read and Buried

A Lighthouse Library Mystery

by Eva Gates

Praise for Read and Buried:
"Historical injustices combine with a touch of romance and codebreaking in a neatly packaged cozy."
—Kirkus Reviews
"De …

read about it
Seeking Shade

Seeking Shade

by Frances Boyle

read about it
Tamarind Sky

Tamarind Sky

by Thelma Wheatley

read about it
Their Last Secret

Their Last Secret

by Rick Mofina

"Rick Mofina's books are edge-of-your seat thrilling. Page turners that don't let up."—Louise Penny, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"A blood pa …

read about it
Cascade

Cascade

by Craig Davidson

read about it
The Braver Thing

The Braver Thing

by Clifford Jackman

read about it
Little Brother & Homeland

Little Brother & Homeland

by Cory Doctorow

read about it
The Borrowman Cell

The Borrowman Cell

by Ingrid Betz

read about it
The Company We Keep

The Company We Keep

A Novel

by Frances Itani

“A heart-wrenching story of hope and sacrifice, of human error and unconventional healing, in which the characters must test the strength of their l …

read about it
Mysterious Dreams of the Dead

Mysterious Dreams of the Dead

by Terry Watada

read about it
Haweaters, The

Haweaters, The

by Vanessa Farnsworth

read about it
This Little Light

This Little Light

by Lori Lansens

NATIONAL BESTSELLER
A Chatelaine Summer Reads selection
One of CBC Books’s “34 works of Canadian fiction to watch for this fall” 
One of The Glo …

read about it
The End of Her

The End of Her

by Shari Lapena

read about it
Gentleman Death / Perpetual Motion

Gentleman Death / Perpetual Motion

Penguin Modern Classics Edition

by Graeme Gibson
introduction by Margaret Atwood

Praise for Perpetual Motion
“Perpetual Motion is an authentic slice of the Canadian past, and it recalls the historian’s grim saw that those who c …

read about it
City of Windows

City of Windows

A Novel

by Robert Pobi

read about it
Children of My Heart

Children of My Heart

Penguin Modern Classics Edition

by Gabrielle Roy

“Gabrielle Roy has never written anything as passionate, as troubling…how far she has come, to the heart’s most hidden recesses.”
–Gilles Ma …

read about it
The Retreat

The Retreat

A Novel of Suspense

by Sherri Smith

“Captivating... Prose that zings with amusing metaphors and wry wit drives this exhilarating roller-coaster ride.” —Publishers Weekly(starred)
…

read about it
Aftershock

Aftershock

A Novel

by Alison Taylor

read about it
A Family Affair

A Family Affair

by Nadine Bismuth
translated by Russell Smith

PRAISE FOR NADINE BISMUTH AND A FAMILY AFFAIR:
Winner, Radio-Canada Combat national des livres
“The author who accustomed us to the lies and neuros …

read about it
Indians on Vacation
All I Ask
The Ghost in the House
Hurry Home
Throw Down Your Shadows
The Living Dead
Swimmers in Winter
Czech Techno & Other Stories of Music
A Russian Sister
Good Mothers Don't
Angel Wing Splash Pattern
The House of Izieu
You Can't Catch Me
Songs for the End of the World
The Neptune Room
You Will Love What You Have Killed
Fair
Still Here
Dear Hearts
The Imago Stage
Going Dutch
The Spoon Stealer
When We Were Vikings
Underneath the Water with the Fish
Fontainebleau
A Delhi Obsession
The Pull of the Stars
DR SAD
The Outlander
The Certainties
This Side Jordan
Forest Green
And This Is the Cure
Grieving for Pigeons
Pekari -The Azure Fish
Or What You Will
On the Head of a Pin
Never Going Back
The Woman Before Wallis
Under Pressure
Rockbound
Read and Buried
Seeking Shade
Tamarind Sky
Their Last Secret
Cascade
The Braver Thing
Little Brother & Homeland
The Borrowman Cell
The Company We Keep
Mysterious Dreams of the Dead
Haweaters, The
This Little Light
The End of Her
Gentleman Death / Perpetual Motion
City of Windows
Children of My Heart
The Retreat
Aftershock
A Family Affair
see all

On the Blog

Book Cover Little Secrets

Summer Reading Starts Here

By Kerry Clare

Summer is not cancelled, and summer reading isn't either. We've got thrillers, epics, drama, historical fiction, and so much more. There is something for every kind of fiction reader on our 2020 Summer List.

Book Cover Kid Sterling

Kid Sterling: Books on Jazz and Justice

By Christine Welldon

Christine Welldon introduces her debut novel, Kid Sterling, and she marks its release with a list of inspiring books that addresses the problems of racism and the trials of gifted African Americans an …

book cover eat salt/gaze at the ocean

Most Anticipated: Our 2020 Fall Poetry Preview

By 49th Shelf Staff

Our Fall Preview continues with poetry, an intriguing selection of debuts, collected works, and excellent new releases.

Shelf Talkers: Books for Summer 2020

Shelf Talkers: Books for Summer 2020

By Robert J Wiersema

Here are our booksellers’ picks for your endless summer days. And if you exhaust this list, remember, more recommendations are as close as your neighbourhood bookstore.

The Chat with Madhur Anand

The Chat with Madhur Anand

By Trevor Corkum

Our first conversation this month is with writer Madhur Anand, whose brilliant experimental memoir This Red Line Goes Straight to Your Heart was recently published by PRH Canada’s new Strange Light …

Awesome August Giveaway

Awesome August Giveaway

By Kiley Turner

We hope you've had some wonderful summer escapes by now – we all deserve some magic this season! Today, we're highlighting five beautiful, inventive books we think could make your next long weekend …

more from the blog

Popular Lists

Shark CanLit

We're All in This Together And Also Sharks Bunny and Shark Shark Assault Sharks of the Pacific Northwest Sharks How to Outswim a Shark Without a Snorkel Sharks Bait Shark Lady The Shark and the Albatross I Love Sharks, Too!
see full list

Books for Folk Festival Season

The Mariposa Folk Festival Festival Man Mountain City Girls Cadillac Couches Joni Mitchell Writing Gordon Lightfoot Rumours Of Glory Fallsy Downsies Four Strong Winds One Man Grand Band
see full list

Heritage House Humour!

Grandfathered Gilly the Ghillie Christmas in Mariposa On the Rocks with Jack Knox The Codfish Dream Opportunity Knox Hard Knox Never Shoot a Stampede Queen The Survival Guide to British Columbia
see full list

The Perseverators: CanLit’s Most Dogged

Still Water The Stone Angel The Devil You Know Fifteen Dogs The Bear Barney's Version All My Puny Sorrows Still Mine Still Here
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

 

join us and get insider perks!

X
Contacting facebook
Please wait...