Hi everyone,
I've just spent the bulk of my Christmas money at our local bookstore (Novel Idea) so this forum comes at a good time! I have a bit of an eclectic mix so bear with me.
Nocturne by Helen Humphreys is my non-fiction pick of the year. I'm giving a copy to both my mom and my mother-in-law, as well as my publisher. In this gorgeous celebration of a life Helen reflects on her brother's untimely passing. To be honest, I didn't want to read this book because I thought it would too sad -- but I couldn't put it down. It reminds me more of Helen's poetry than her prose. The writing here is spare, honest, funny, and gut-wrenching.
For the kids on my list (who are now between the ages of 6-10) I have some of my all time favorite books:
Awake and Dreaming by Kit Pearson,
The Giver and
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, and of course,
Love that Dog, by Sharon Creech.
Awake and Dreaming is a gorgeous book about a young girl who lives in poverty and lives a kind of alternate life...I don't want to describe it too much and ruin it. Suffice it to say that I think it's beyond beautiful.
The Giver is a great introduction to science fiction and delves deeply into issues of freedom, suffering, and love.
Number the Stars is the best introduction to the Holocaust I've read. It gives a fictionalized account of the true resistance in Denmark, with a female protagonist who is not only brave and admirable, but also thoroughly herself.
Love that Dog manages to make it on my list as one of the best books of poetry I've read as well as one of the best kid's book I've ever read.
For my husband I'm giving him
Born Weird, by Andrew Kauffman.
Born Weird is a fun romp through the world of the Weirds, a family that seems very real despite the surreal elements of the book. I'm also giving him
Bang Crunch a fabulous book of short stories by Neil Smith. Smith's writing reminds me of Munro and since my husband wrote his thesis on Munro I think it's a fitting gift. In addition, since he's been such a good husband this year, I'm also picking up
The Sisters Brother by Patrick DeWitt which I haven't read but I've heard is quite an excellent and bloody book.
Speaking of bloody, I'm giving
Husk, by Corey Redekop to my neighbour Matt who loves the zombie genre. I thought
Husk was a fun though vomit-inducing read.
For my bff I'm sending the griffin nominated
Personals Ian Williams as well as
Leaving Howe Island by Sadiqa DeMeijer. Both of these books of poetry have that warm tenderness that makes you glad to be a part of this world. I know Sheri will go crazy over these books.
Lastly, I'm asking Santa for
Caught by Lisa Moore (I died over
February -- what a supremely beautiful book) as well as
How to Get Along with Women by Elisabeth DeMariaffi. I've been wanting to read more of Elisabeth's work ever since I heard her read in a little book store in Perth, Ontario. And now I'm broke.