Play Book Tag discussion
January 2025: Canada
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Announcing the First Tag of 2025!
I knew it! I have many options, including the next in a couple of mystery series.
I know Cindy is happy. I'm sure I have plenty of books that will fit. I'll definitely be reading The Answer Is…: Reflections on My Life since I own a copy of it.
Anita, I can’t believe everything you got done for all of us this week. Thank you!!! I hope you can take a break now. I know BWF is a bear to review, so why not save it for later. We have everything we need now to plan for the new year. I’m excited about Canada. I have several options for Compass already, in case I get N, NW or NE.
For those who like quirky or sapphic books, I recommend Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead. This year I really liked Late Nights on Air, and
Moon of the Turning Leaves - maybe even more than his first book.
Take a look at my Canada and indigenous shelves for other recommendations.
I will be reading more books by Emily St. John Mandel, Margaret Atwood, Louise Penny - mysteries, and maybe Kelley Armstrong - if I’m in the mood for time travel or paranormal.
I also want to read Snow Road Station and Run Towards the Danger: Confrontations with a Body of Memory.
NancyJ wrote: "Anita, I can’t believe everything you got done for all of us this week. Thank you!!! I hope you can take a break now. I know BWF is a bear to review, so why not save it for later. We have everythin..."Thank you! I'm trying to get as much done as I can!
I am even making headway on BWF. Slow headway, but headway nonetheless.
Rachel N. wrote: "I know Cindy is happy. I'm sure I have plenty of books that will fit. I'll definitely be reading The Answer Is…: Reflections on My Life since I own a copy of it."Oh, this sounds really interesting!
Rachel N. wrote: "I know Cindy is happy. I'm sure I have plenty of books that will fit. I'll definitely be reading The Answer Is…: Reflections on My Life since I own a copy of it."YAY! You got that right, Rachel! I always want to read more Canadian stuff. :-)
I think Karin will be happy, too.
Does anyone have any favorite books set in Western Canada?
NancyJ wrote: "Does anyone have any favorite books set in Western Canada?"Might depend on what genre you are looking for, but this nonfiction will likely make my top 10 this year (Alberta):
Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World by John Valliant (or have you read it already?)
Oh, these would work for this month, too! (Mystery-thriller):
Still Missing / Chevy Stevens (BC)
Those Girls / Chevy Stevens (BC)
Contemporary (set in the 70s) - this made my favourites list last year:
Tell It to the Trees / Anita Rau Badami (BC)
I have lots of 4 star books, too, including some in Saskatchewan. But those above are my 4.5 and 5 star reads.
So happy, though I’d have been fine with ‘family’ as well. I’ve got the next in the Three Pines series (The Brutal Telling) on order from the library and it will definitely come though in time. Yay!
Lots of other great options for this tag too. I really should get back to some more Margaret Atwood for instance.
NancyJ wrote: "Does anyone have any favorite books set in Western Canada?"Heart Berries is set in British Columbia.
I HIGHLY recommend Under This Unbroken Sky by Shandi MitchellI think it takes place in Alberta. 5***** from me!
OH, Susan Vreeland's The Forest Lover is set in British Columbia.I may read from the Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny or perhaps seek out another book by Carol Shields (the only one I've read before is Unless, set in Toronto)
Yes! I actually threw points at this one, and I almost never do that :)I definitely want to try something by Julie Czerneda, and I'm leaning towards A Thousand Words for Stranger
And these would all work for my Play Harder prompts:
The Freeze-Frame Revolution by Peter Watts
A Little Village Blend by Nathan Burgoine
Any of these contemporary romances:
Finding Mr. Write by Kelley Armstrong
Sunshine Nails by Mai Nguyen
The Fall by Kate Sherwood
Two Princes by Maggie Blackbird
The Friendship Study by Ruby Barrett
Other Canadian authors from my pile of possibilities:
Albatross by Terry Fallis
Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots
The Outside by Ada Hoffmann
A Song for Arbonne by Guy Gavriel Kay
Pam wrote: "Albatross by Terry Fallis.."I haven't read that one, but I've really enjoyed others I've read by Terry Fallis!
I can recommend the following novels which I've enjoyed:Etta and Otto and Russell and James
Our Homesick Songs
Greenwood
Crow Lake
A Town Called Solace
Holly R W (Not Getting Notifications) wrote: "I can recommend the following novels which I've enjoyed:Greenwood
..."
I also really liked "Greenwood".
For what I plan to read, I already have a couple lined up: - Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands / Kate Beaton
- The Break / Katherena Vermette
Possibly (if it comes in at the library for me):
- Moon of the Crusted Snow / Waubgeshig Rice
I'm really happy with this tag and have a number on my TBR which I will choose from.For those I would recommend:
anything by Richard Wagamese
The Tenderness of Wolves
Moon of the Crusted Snow
Moon of the Turning Leaves
Where the Falcon Flies: A 3,400 Kilometre Odyssey From My Doorstep to the Arctic
Crow Lake
The Outlander
Western Canada for Nancy J
The Russell Quant Series, many set in Saskatchewan
A Tale for the Time Being
Five Little Indians
NancyJ wrote: "Does anyone have any favorite books set in Western Canada?"The Lane Winslow mystery series is set in British Columbia right after WWII - the first book is A Killer in King's Cove. This series would appeal to fans of Maisie Dobbs.
I Heard the Owl Call My Name is a short but moving book set in British Coumbia.
There's a terrific book set in the Canadian plains, showing how challenging ranch life can be there. But I can't remember the name, I 'll have to look for it.
Found it - Luna - Sharon Butala
In Eastern Canada - Fall on Your Knees and The Shipping News
Carol Shields sets her books around Winnipeg. My favorites are 2 lesser known books -The Republic Of Love and Larry's Party.
Robin P wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "Does anyone have any favorite books set in Western Canada?"The Lane Winslow mystery series is set in British Columbia right after WWII - the first book is ..."
I read I Heard the Owl Call My Name back in the 1970s and remember I liked it but don't remember anything about it but the title, location and meaning of the title(I think)
Atwood MargaretAlias Grace
The Blind Assassin
Morning In The Burned House: Poems
Paper Boat: New and Selected Poems, 1961-2023
So you can go either way - set in Canada or Canadian author, or both.
For Canadian authors I really liked What Strange Paradise. It has plenty of Canada tags so it works for this tag. It is set in the Mediterranean and would work for the Compass challenge for Egypt or Greece. For Play Harder it would work for prompts related to oceans, refugees, immigration and literary fiction,
I also loved Atwood’s The Year of the Flood, Oryx and Crake, and MaddAddam. The settings might not be clear though for Compass.
Other popular Canadian authors are
Miriam Toews - Fight Night and several others
Nita Prose - The Maid, The Mystery Guest
Dennis E. Taylor - We Are Legion (We Are Bob) - science fiction
Thank you all for the NW recommendations! LibraryCin wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "Does anyone have any favorite books set in Western Canada?"
this nonfiction will likely make my top 10 this year (Alberta):
[book..."
@ Cindy - [book:Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World|61966364] is great for me. I confused it with the recent fires in the NE, so I completely missed that it works for NW. It also fits an ATY prompt next year.
@Joy - Heart Berries - I loved it! Its worth a reread,
Book Concierge wrote: "I HIGHLY recommend Under This Unbroken Sky by Shandi Mitchell”
@BC - those both sound great.
Booknblues wrote:
Western Canada for Nancy J
The Russell Quant Series, many set in Saskatchewan
A Tale for the Time Being
Five Little Indians
@BNB - The last two were 5 star reads for me! I loved them.
Robin P wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "Does anyone have any favorite books set in Western Canada?"
The Lane Winslow mystery ..."
@ Robin - thanks I’ll look for them.
I also second the recommendations for Greenwood - I loved it. It was almost as powerful as Overstory - but it’s a much faster read, easy to follow and entertaining.
Book Concierge wrote: "I think The Incredible Journey is set in Canada?"Yes, it is, and it works for the dog and animal related prompts in Play Harder too. What an adventure!
Fifteen Dogs is also a dog book, set in Toronto. Though it’s edgier and more literary than most dog books.
Robin P wrote: "Found it - Luna - Sharon Butala ..."I met her once, on her ranch with her husband, Peter. My parents knew her husband and we drove out to Eastend, SK to visit (or maybe Dad was selling something to Peter... Dad used to sell farm equipment).
NancyJ wrote: "Book Concierge wrote: "I think The Incredible Journey is set in Canada?"..."I think this is my Trim book this month, but I'm not sure I'll get to it!
ETA: No, it was November's Trim book, but I still might not get to it or December's Trim.
LibraryCin wrote: "Robin P wrote: "Found it - Luna - Sharon Butala ..."I met her once, on her ranch with her husband, Peter. My parents knew her husband and we drove out to Eastend, SK to visit (or maybe Dad was se..."
Wow! I never knew anybody who was familiar with that book or the author, except the women's book group in St. Paul that I read it with. It had such a great sense of place.
Robin P wrote: "Wow! I never knew anybody who was familiar with that book or the author..."I've read a few books she wrote, though their titles have escaped me...
I highly recommend The Tenderness of Wolves by author:Stef Penney|181357] - a Women's Prize long list nominee - set in Ontario, Canada in 1867 - Historical Fiction. I gave it 5 stars.It fits a lot of different types of prompts - I read it for a PS prompt for book set in the wilderness and boy is it! It's set at a time that fur trapping is waning due to overkill and the Hudson Bay Company is struggling to survive. There's also a murder mystery at the core, but it's just the trigger to tell this historical story.
Can anyone suggest an adventure/survival type book set in Canada......there have to be some....Otherwise I do have Oryx and Crake, which I attempted to start about 2 years ago and should finish or Ben FogleLABRADOR- SIGNED ED WWW.HAR_HB since Labradors are one of Canada's most loved exports and Ben Fogle is usually a good adventure writer.
Jen wrote: "Can anyone suggest an adventure/survival type book set in Canada......there have to be some......"Hatchet by Gary Paulsen (and the sequel) are set in Canada and involve adventure / survival.
Theresa wrote: "I highly recommend The Tenderness of Wolves by author:Stef Penney|181357] - a Women's Prize long list nominee - set in Ontario, Canada in 1867 - Historical Fiction. I gave it 5 stars...."I agree with the recommendation for The Tenderness of Wolves - one of my favorites!
This book has the CANADA tag because the author is from Canada but it is set in and about the partition of India / PakistanWhat the Body Remembers by Shauna Singh Baldwin
The book will also fit an "award" prompt in Play Harder as it won the Commonwealth Prize and was nominated for the Orange prize (but didn't win that one)
By the way, Shauna now lives in Milwaukee with her husband, and we are acquaintances.
Book Concierge wrote: "Jen wrote: "Can anyone suggest an adventure/survival type book set in Canada......there have to be some......"Hatchet by Gary Paulsen (and the sequel) are set in Canada and involve adventure / survival."
I loved this book so much as a kid! I know I re-read it several times at least. I'm tempted to try it next month even though middle grade doesn't really work for me anymore
Oh, Happy Day! I hope this encourages people to read more Canadian authors rather than simply read American authors who have books set in Canada.
I have a few I want to read, but to recommend, once again I suggest, if you like humour (the second one is even better than the first) Home to Woefield (in Canada this is called The Woefield Poultry Collective, or I may have this backward.)
Republic of Dirt: A Return to Woefield Farm (award winning)
Jen wrote: "Can anyone suggest an adventure/survival type book set in Canada......there have to be some....Otherwise I do have Oryx and Crake, which I attempted to start about 2 years ago and sh..."
Suggested this --- for Canada - but worth posting again and is both wilderness and survival - The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney - HF set in 1867 Ontario as fur trapping is waning from overkill and Hudson Bay Company struggling to survive. I read it several years ago for PS prompt for set in wilderness and it is very much a story of survival.
The Dog Who Wouldn't Be is set in Canada by a Canadian author, is short and amusing, and has a dog on the cover, for those who have that prompt for a game.
The annual Giller Prize represents a wonderful range of Canadian authors, with books set all over the world. They publish a long list and short list every year, going back to 1994. GR wouldn't let me post their web site but it's "gillerprize" then "." then "ca". Run it all together to go to their website.
They also have links to an annual list of new "CanLit" going back to 2020.
Sue wrote: "The annual Giller Prize represents a wonderful range of Canadian authors, with books set all over the world. They publish a long list and short list every year, going back to 1994. GR wouldn't le..."
This year I read Birnam Wood from the 2023 short list. It’s definitely not a run of the mill story.
I don’t normally pay a lot of attention to book covers, but some of books over the years have really stood out. It’s like they want to send a message that they won’t be giving you the same old plots.
I think I am going with Letters Across the Sea, or Hag Seed.
Book Concierge wrote: "Jen wrote: "Can anyone suggest an adventure/survival type book set in Canada......there have to be some......"Hatchet by Gary Paulsen (and the sequel) are set in Canada and ..."
Good choice but I've read it.
Theresa wrote: "Jen wrote: "Can anyone suggest an adventure/survival type book set in Canada......there have to be some....Otherwise I do have Oryx and Crake, which I attempted to start about 2 year..."
Good suggestion. I'll see if I can get hold of it hard copy since I'm not keen on electronic versions.
Book Concierge wrote: "Jen wrote: "Can anyone suggest an adventure/survival type book set in Canada......there have to be some......"Hatchet by Gary Paulsen (and the sequel) are set in Canada and ..."
Good suggestion but I've read it recently.
Getting back online after a very long month. Loving the suggestions since there are so many great options.Right now I'm looking at Moon of the Turning Leaves and Much Ado about Nada which are on my library hold lists and Greenwood which I own.
Jen K wrote: "Getting back online after a very long month. Loving the suggestions since there are so many great options.Right now I'm looking at Moon of the Turning Leaves and [book:Much Ado a..."
3 great choices. I really liked the two I read. I didn’t read this Austen retelling, but this author wrote my favorite P&P retelling.
Are you back home yet?
Karin wrote: "I have a few I want to read, but to recommend, once again I suggest, if you like humour (the second one is even better than the first) Home to Woefield (in Canada this is called Th..."
Karin, Republic of Dirt: A Return to Woefield Farm is the one I went looking for and no luck, no one has it. However, the other one is available. It looks like they are about the same woman, and place, and Republic is book 2, so that works out. Also, humor is what I need right now.
I am taking my goal (Compass-Read off the TBR) seriously and extending it to my other reading. You have always been a champion of Canadian Writers, so I will order the book and go for it. With any luck (doubtful-lol) it will fit Compass too.
Play Book Tag
Books mentioned in this topic
The Blind Assassin (other topics)The Blind Assassin (other topics)
The Blind Assassin (other topics)
The Dog Who Wouldn't Be (other topics)
The Glass Hotel (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Farley Mowat (other topics)Jane Urquhart (other topics)
Jane Urquhart (other topics)
Silvia Moreno-Garcia (other topics)
Gary Paulsen (other topics)
More...
And the winning tag for next month (in a very close vote) is:
Canada
Please share your reading plans and recommendations below.
Remember, for the regular monthly reads, the book can be shelved as "canada" on Goodreads, or be a book that is not yet shelved that way but you feel should be.
One way to find books to read for this tag is to please visit:
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...
We encourage people to link to additional lists below if they find them.
Happy Reading!!!