Canada has no shortage of amazing writers. Canuck authors are witty, well researched and thought provoking. So to celebrate the Dominion’s 144th birthday I’m sharing my top five favourite Canadian books. While it’s hard to narrow it down to just a handful, these books show the breadth of talent we have in this country.
1. “Lullabies for Little Criminals” by Heather O’Neill
This is an absolute must read. O’Neill does an amazing job of putting you inside the mind of a twelve-year-old. Baby is a Montreal girl raised by her heroine-addict father who falls into all the traps set out for a naive kid with no guidance.
2. “Not Wanted on the Voyage” by Timothy Findley
You really can’t go wrong with any book by Timothy Findley, but I particularly love this story. Findley always goes in-depth with his research, which is why his characters have so much depth. You know you have a great author when he can write believably in the voice of a cat. “Not Wanted on the Voyage” is Findley’s take on the story of Noah’s ark.
3. “The Birth House” by Ami McKay
I love historical fiction and this piece by Ami McKay is full of Nova Scotia history and culture. It’s a story about women’s traditions and society’s trouble with accepting our sexuality.
4. “The Book of Negroes” by Lawrence Hill
“The Book of Negroes” is another rich historical fiction following Aminata’s journey from Africa to slavery in the southern United States to freedom in Birchtown , Nova Scotia and back to Africa. The historical and geographical detail give an historical lesson while the character and plot make a story you can’t put down.
5. “No Great Mischief” by Alistair MacLeod
This story is so Nova Scotian it has a blue nose. It’s about family history and Cape Bretoners making their way in the world. The tone, the story, the characters, they all make me feel at home.
