“I Read Canadian” 2022

For this year’s “I Read Canadian” Day (that’s today), I decided to list books by Canadian authors I’ve read in the past year. And — to adopt a phrase used by the cheesiest of stories online — you won’t believe what I discovered!

Canadian Books

More than half of the 100 books I read were Canadian!

Here are some favourites:

Canadian Fiction

Butter Honey Pig Bread – Francesca Ekwuyasi

This Is How We Love – Lisa Moore

Daughters of the Deer – Danielle Daniel

The Lightkeeper’s Daughters – Jean E. Pendziwol

Scarborough – Catherine Hernandez

The Strangers – Katherena Vermette

A Town Called Solace – Mary Lawson

A Quality of Light – Richard Wagamese

Speak, Silence – Kim Echlin

This Little Light – Lori Lansens

Animal Person – Alexander MacLeod

Em – Kim Thúy

Five Little Indians – Michelle Good

Moon of the Crusted Snow – Rice Waubgeshig

Canadian Non-Fiction

Pluck – Donna Morrissey

Unreconciled – Jesse Wente

21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act – Bob Joseph

Run Towards the Danger – Sarah Polley

“Indian” in the Cabinet – Jody Wilson-Raybould

Living the 1.5 Degree Lifestyle – Lloyd Alter

Funny, You Don’t Look Autistic – Michael McCreary

Permanent Astonishment – Tomson Highway

And A Dog Called Fig – Helen Humphreys

Hot, Wet, & Shaking – Kaleigh Trace

How to Lose Everything – Christa Couture

Canadian Poetry

Hard Light – Michael Crummey

Inventing the Hawk – Lorna Crozier

The Bridge That Carries the Road – Lynn Davies

Domain – Barbara Nickel

The New Canon: An Anthology of Canadian Poetry – Carmine Starnino (ed)

If you’re a fan of stats, you might be interested in knowing that of the 30 titles listed …

  • 9 were by Indigenous authors.
  • 9 were memoirs.
  • 9 were audio books.
  • 18 were by authors I hadn’t read previously.
  • 20 were by women.

Did you notice a lack of children’s books on my list? I’m more dependent on my memory in that area, but here is one truly unforgettable recommendation in that category:

Canadian Picture Book

Rodney Was A Tortoise – Nan Forler, ill. Yong Ling Kang

One of the best ways to celebrate “the richness, diversity, and breadth of Canadian literature” is by setting aside at least fifteen minutes to “read Canadian.” Happy reading!

What book(s) will you be picking up this “I Read Canadian” Day?

 

Share this post:

Kathy Stinson is the author of the classic Red Is Best and the award-winning The Man with the Violin. Her wide range of titles includes picture books, non-fiction, young adult fiction, historical fiction, horror, biography, series books, and short stories. She has met with her readers in every province and territory of Canada, in the United States, Britain, Liberia, and Korea. She lives in a small town in Ontario.

Kathy Stinson

2 Comments

  1. Janet Barclay on November 12, 2022 at 9:05 am

    I’ve only read two of these, but I’ll soon be starting “We Spread” by Iain Reid.

    • Kathy on November 12, 2022 at 11:04 am

      I just looked up We Spread. I’d like to read that one too!

Leave a Comment

Please read my Privacy Policy before commenting/subscribing.