Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Happy Canada Day!

For all my neighbors to the North, Happy Canada Day!! In honor of the holiday and my friend John, from the Book Mine Set, I decided to once again take part in his Canadian Book Challenge. Last year, I read one book (mind, you it was a great book!!! A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry). But sadly, only one.

So here it is again: Starting July 1st, 2008 and running to July 1st, 2009, I challenge you to read (and write about) 13 Canadian books (by Canadians and/or about Canadians).

This year, I already have a head-start on the game because I'm almost done with my first selection, Crow Lake by Mary Lawson. So, here are my selections, a few left over from this year:

  • Crow Lake by Mary Lawson
  • Lullabies for Little Criminals by Heather O'Neill
  • The Dreaming Place by Charles de Lint
  • Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood
  • The Time in Between by David Bergen
  • Runaway by Alice Munroe
  • The Summer Tree by Guy Gavriel Kay
  • A Jest of God by Margaret Laurence
  • Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
  • The Colony of Unrequited Dreams by Wayne Johnston
  • Fall on Your Knees by Anne-Marie MacDonald
  • Clara Callan by Richard B. Wright
  • Monkey Beach by Eden Robinson

Sounds like fun!!

9 comments:

Teddy Rose said...

I'm glad that your joining the challenge again.

I loved the following books on your list:
The Time in Between by David Bergen
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
The Colony of Unrequited Dreams by Wayne Johnston
Fall on Your Knees by Anne-Marie MacDonald

I also enjoyed Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood

The Colony of Unrequited Dreams has a lot about Canadian politics of the time. I read it a couple years after moving to Canada and enjoyed that aspect.

I may read Crow Lake for the challenge. I'll be interested to know what you think.

Ana S. said...

yay for Monkey Beach! Love that book. That's a great list. So many cool authors. I hope you enjoy all your picks, Stephanie :)

Kailana said...

Hey Stephanie. I finished The Host the other day and you are lucky because I LOVED it! It was ten times better than the Twilight series. Totally more my thing or something. Thanks so much for the recommendation!

You have some awesome books on that list! I loved Crow Lake, the other book she has out is good as well. Fall on Your Knees I read back when it first came out and it was really good! I have yet to read her other book, though... Water for Elepants was enjoyable. I think I read that last year. And, Clara Callan was one of my favourite books the year I read it. I think it was 'the gift book' that year, meaning anyone I gave books to got that book. Lullabies for Little Criminals was good as well. I read that last year. It took me a bit to get through it and then I enjoyed it. I hated The Time in Between, though. I could not get into that book at all. A couple of those books I have here to read as well. One of these days...

Iliana said...

Oh so many good books you've got on your list! Some I want to read and others I love (Cat's Eye is so great!). Good luck with your challenge!

Stephanie said...

Teddy - Thanks! Some of the books are hold-overs that I just didn't get to in the last challenge...and some are newer picks. I added a couple of Giller's this year! I have to check out your list now!

Nymeth - I loved the cover of Monkey Beach!! It looks like a great book!

Kelly - YEAH!! I KNEW you would like it!! It was an awesome book!! I can't seem to gush enough about it. I just finished Crow Lake and it was wonderful! I'm pretty excited about this challenge.

Iliana - There are just too many great challenges out there, aren't there?? I was hoping to find some good reading. From what everyone is saying, maybe I did!

John Mutford said...

Of the ones on your list that I've read (1, 2, 5, 10, and 11) I enjoyed them all. I'm not a Munro fan, but I haven't read the one you're choosing, so you never know!

tanabata said...

From your list, I really loved Fall on Your Knees and Clara Callan when I read them. I'm going to put my list together today. Happy reading! :)

Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanity said...

I didn't know Sara Gruen was Canadian! Learn something every day. I really liked Fall on Your Knees! Really liked it. :) I wanted to do this challenge but I just can't commit to anymore without going totally crazy! Have a great time.

Susan said...

Well, I can put in a good word for the Guy Gavriel Kay - that was one I read 20 years ago when it first came out, and it blew me away, it was so good. I actually have just picked it up again to reread soon, since it's been a while. I have Cat's Eye to read for the 1% Challenge....my list for the second Canadian Challenge is Charles de Lint! I'm going to read everything by him I haven't read yet, and a few old favourites. Hopefully I'll finish the challenge this time!! Great list, Stephanie, and glad you're joining again :-)