The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

OH CANADA! - To Commemorate The Upcoming Winter Olympics That Will Be Held In Vancouver, Canada - Read A Novel Written By A Canadian Author, Set In Canada, Or A Non-Fiction Book About Canada.
Ex. Saul Bellow, Mrs. Mike, So, You Want to Be Canadian All About the Most Fascinating People in the World and the Magical Place They Call Home

If you need suggestions for books to read for this task post a request here.

Hello!

Not that I'm biased, or anything like that (being Canadian has nothing to do with it at all!!) but I LOVE this task! Come for a visit, linger for a lifetime!

I don't live in Canada, but I'm completely in love with the country and would love to live there someday (hence why I suggested this task). My parents both grew up in Buffalo, NY and we used to go back every summer. Instead of staying in Buffalo, we had a house about halfway between Buffalo and Toronto. Some of my favorite memories growing up are from spending summers there.

Vancouver is also the prettiest city I've ever been to. I'd live there if I could stomach leaving Texas...

There are a few really good hockey biographies/books that would work well for this task. That satisfied my hockey nut as well :)

Amy, do you get to Vancouver often? Will you be up for the Olympics?

Sadly, no, I haven't been for a few years :( I won't be going to the Olympics either since they're right during school. That was actually pretty disappointing because it would have been awesome to have a last semester of college trip, but there's no way I can leave for that long.

I'd love to go back next summer, but I'm not sure how this transitioning to "real life" thing is going to go...

Margaret Atwood is a Canadian author!

Douglas Coupland is Canadian too!

Also, I just read Last Night in Twisted River A Novel by John Irving and a good portion of it takes place in Canada.

Don't some of the books that Kathy Reichs writes take place in Canada? I can't remember if she is Canadian or not.

Carol Shields, Mordecai Richler and Robertson Davies are also Canadian.

I am originally from North Vancouver (moved to TN 4 yrs ago) and will be headed up there next week to visit family. I'm excited for the Olympics; it'll be awesome! The kids will all be out of school for those two weeks. It'll be pretty crazy. They've been preparing for like 10 years.

Kathryn wrote: "Don't some of the books that Kathy Reichs writes take place in Canada? I can't remember if she is Canadian or not."

Yes she splits her time between Canada and the Carolinas, you need to check to see which take place where, one takes place in central america too.

Julie wrote: "I am originally from North Vancouver (moved to TN 4 yrs ago) and will be headed up there next week to visit family. I'm excited for the Olympics; it'll be awesome! The kids will all be out of schoo..."

I think the Olympics in Vancouver are going to be the best anyone has seen... and will probably set a new standard for the way things should be run.

Teresa in Ohio wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Don't some of the books that Kathy Reichs writes take place in Canada? I can't remember if she is Canadian or not."

Yes she splits her time between Canada and the Carolinas, you..."

Kathy Reichs herself is American, not Canadian.
As far as I can remember the following Kathy Reichs books are set primarily in Canada:
-Deja Dead
-Death Du Jour
-Deadly Decisions
-Monday Mourning
-Bones to Ashes
However I am fairly sure that in majority of the books she ends up in Canada at some point. I hope this helped.
BTW thanks cause I never would have thought to read Kathy Reichs for this challenge

Elantriel wrote: "Teresa in Ohio wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Don't some of the books that Kathy Reichs writes take place in Canada? I can't remember if she is Canadian or not."

Yes she splits her time between Canada..."

I was just thinking of her and coming here to comment that at least the first one (the only one I've read so far) is set in Canada. Now I can read another! :)

Canadian authors I recommend:

R. Scott Bakker
Charles de Lint
Cory Doctorow
Steven Erikson
Nalo Hopkinson
Matthew Hughes
Guy Gavriel Kay
Yves Meynard
Holly Phillips
Geoff Ryman
Robert J. Sawyer
Jo Walton
Robert Charles Wilson

Elantriel wrote: "Teresa in Ohio wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Don't some of the books that Kathy Reichs writes take place in Canada? I can't remember if she is Canadian or not."

Yes she splits her time between Canada..."

her latest has her visiting Chicago : )

Cait wrote: "Also, I just read Last Night in Twisted River A Novel by John Irving and a good portion of it takes place in Canada."

I am about two-thirds the way through Irving's latest. What did you think Cait?

Hello!

Some of my favourite Canadian authors are:

Miriam Toews
Camilla Gibb
Michael Crummey
Wayne Johnston
Mordecai Richler
Lisa Moore
Robertson Davies
Frances Itani
Joan Barfoot
Rohinton Mistry
Joan Clark

There are so many wonderful Canadian writers. I had to stop myself at eleven, but could go on and on.

Please ask if you would like any specific recommendations. I would be happy to help out in any way I can.

A new Canadian author is Cathy Marie Buchanan. She wrote The Day the Falls Stood Still, which also has a Canadian setting.

Jennifer wrote: "Cait wrote: "Also, I just read Last Night in Twisted River A Novel by John Irving and a good portion of it takes place in Canada."

I am about two-thirds the way through Irving's la..."

I loved it and gave it 5 stars. A Prayer for Owen Meany is still my favorite of his. Although I've only read three so far, he has yet to disappoint me. I loved The World According to Garp as well (gave it 4 stars). I'm getting ready to read The Cider House Rules, which I'm really excited about.

Timothy Findley is also a very good.

I just finished The Outlander by Gil Adamson and it was excellent.

You can also check out the website for the Scotiabank Giller Prize (Canadian literary award). There are some excellent books that were finalists and winners.

http://www.scotiabankgillerprize.ca/h...

Hope this helps.

Also, I just read Last Night in Twisted River A Novel by John Irving and a good portion of it takes place in Canada."

Thanks...I wanted to read this:-)

Amy wrote: "There are a few really good hockey biographies/books that would work well for this task. That satisfied my hockey nut as well :)
"

Ohhhhhhh! A fellow Hockey nut! Yay! I thought I was alone...What's your favorite team?

Now to bring this back on topic- Alice Munro is a Canadian author- she's got quite a few books to choose from as well

LOVE this task btw!

Tanya wrote: "Alice Munro is a Canadian author- she's got quite a few books to choose from as well. "

Alice Munro ROCKS!

For those unfamiliar, she does specialize in the short story. Some of her books are linked short stories ~ reading almost like a novel,The View from Castle Rock being one great example, and some of her books have stand alone stories in each chapter, such as The Moons of Jupiter.

She is, I think, the greatest short story writer in the world (and that is REALLY not me being biased, but based on massive global consensus, not to mention the awards she has accumulated). She is also so darn adorable, approachable, humble and, well, brilliant!

If reading short stories is new to you, this would be the woman to start with. I don't think you can go wrong with any of her works.

Would an biography by and about a Candian count or does it have to be a novel?

Elantriel wrote: "Would an biography by and about a Candian count or does it have to be a novel?"That's fine.

A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews
Life of Pi by Yann Martel (born in Spain but he is a Canadian)
Crow Lake by Mary Lawson

Kate wrote: "A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews Life of Pi by Yann Martel (born in Spain but he is a Canadian) Crow Lake by Mary Lawson"

Awesome suggestions Kate!!

Cait wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "Cait wrote: "Also, I just read Last Night in Twisted River A Novel by John Irving and a good portion of it takes place in Canada."

I am about two-thirds the way th..."

The Cider House Rules was an excellent book although the first 30-50 pp start slowly. Get past that, though and it's a great read! Also The Hotel New Hampshire was excellent. One of my favorite authors!

Carol Shields is another great Canadian author.

Michael Ondaatje is Canadian, and his book, In the Skin of a Lion is set in Toronto.

Susan Vreeland has written The Forest Lover about famed Canadian artist Emily Carr.

Tanya wrote: "Amy wrote: "There are a few really good hockey biographies/books that would work well for this task. That satisfied my hockey nut as well :)
"

Ohhhhhhh! A fellow Hockey nut! Yay! I thought I w..."

And I thought that I was the only hockey nut on the board. Go Sabres!!!

I don't know if I would call my self a Hockey Nut, but I do have a healthy appreciatin and fandom for it, being from Minnesota.. which is about as close to being in Canada as you can get without leaving the U.S. (I even say Eh? LOL). Go Wild!

Lullabies for Little Criminals Heather O'Neill is set in Canada. I think the she's Canadian too.

Here are some suggestions for the hockey fans out there (Go Habs Go!)

The Game
Our Life with the Rocket The Maurice Richard Story
Maurice "Rocket" Richard
Jean Beliveau My Life in Hockey
Searching for Bobby Orr
Gordie A Hockey Legend An Unauthorized Biography of Gordie Howe
Home Game Hockey and Life in Canada
The Best Game You Can Name
Hockey A People's History
The Montreal Canadiens 100 Years of Glory

Sarita wrote: "Lullabies for Little Criminals Heather O'Neill is set in Canada. I think the she's Canadian too."

Lullabies for Little Criminals: A Novel: Yes, and yes! The book takes place in Vancouver, British Columbia and O'Neill is Canadian. Good recommendation Sarita!

Wow! I'm a little late to the game with this category, but I'm super excited about it!! I'm in Prince George, BC and can't WAIT for the Olympics to come to my province!! I'm actually going to go down and watch curling! SO excited, although I do wish it was hockey instead! (GO Canucks!)
I just thought I'd throw some suggestions in here, since I have a massive collection of Canadiana and love to read about my country! Some really great non-fiction books about Canadians and Canada are by Will Ferguson such as Beauty Tips from Moose Jaw, Why I Hate Canadians, Bastards & boneheads Canada's glorious leaders, past and present andHow to Be a Canadian...he also has a great fiction book called Generica!