Announcing the First Tag of 2025!

[Robin P]

NancyJ wrote: "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..."

I was sure Eleanor Catton was from New Zealand, which she is, but she was actually born in Canada, so that counts!

[Theresa]

Joy D wrote: "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 ..."

I thought I remembered you had read and liked it also! Really good.

[Charlie]

Trying to decide whether to read 1.) my first ever Louise Penny book, 2.) The Blind Assassin or 3.) Mexican Gothic (I have no idea why/how this is tagged Canada. Welcome any thoughts/suggestions and Happy Holidays to all!

[Theresa]

I loved Mexican Gothic as did many others. Good discussion. I have not been impressed with Louise Penney though I am distinctly in the minority and only read the first. Did not hate it or wow me. Just seemed mediocre. But I am a minority of 1, LOL.

Have not yet read Blind Assassin.

[Book Concierge]

re: Mexican Gothic
Silvia Moreno-Garcia describes herself as "Mexican by birth, Canadian by inclination." She attended university in British Columbia and I believe she currently lives in Canada. That's probably why the book is tagged "Canada."

[NancyJ]

Robin P wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "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 bac..."

I picked it for a prompt to read a book by a Canadian , Australian or New Zealand author, I didn’t even know if was on the Giller Prize list until later. I was surprised. I have her book The Luminaries, but at 29 hours on audio, I’m afraid to start it. ( I once whipped through a longer Follett book in only 2 days, but that’s rare. I suspect his books are unusually easy to follow, and I didn’t have brain fog.)

[KateNZ]

The Luminaries is a doorstop - but so so clever. One of the boys gave it to me the year it won the Booker. I need to re-read it for the story. I was so fixated on the structure that I can’t remember the story nearly well enough.

[Rachel N.]

Theresa wrote: "I loved Mexican Gothic as did many others. Good discussion. I have not been impressed with Louise Penney though I am distinctly in the minority and only read the first. Did not hate it or wow me. J..."

Theresa I also am not impressed by Louise Penney so we can be a minority of two in that :-). I've tried two of her books and decided she just isn't for me.

[LibraryCin]

Louise penney is ok, but im also just meh on her. i thought moreno was canadian. Close enough, i suppose if she lives here.

[Charlie]

Thx all, I’m going with Mexican Gothic based on your collective recommendation.

[Theresa]

Glad to have company vis, Louise! Minority though we still are.

@Charlie - glad we helped!

[Ghost of a Rose]

I’m happy with this tag!

I recommend anything and everything by Margaret Atwood.

I’m planning to read:
The Glass Hotel, by Emily St. John-Mandel The Glass Hotel
The Penelopiad, by Margaret Atwood The Penelopiad
The Robber Bride, by Margaret Atwood The Robber Bride

[Joy D]

I am planning to read a Canadian author who has a recent release:
In Winter I Get Up at Night by Jane Urquhart

[Kim]

I recently found the Ellie McLellan Genealogy Mystery Series by Beth Farrar. The series is based in Canada, Ellie is a genealogist, researching for clients, friends and herself. I am thoroughly enjoying the series.

Book 1 is Family Secrets.

[NancyJ]

Joy D wrote: "I am planning to read a Canadian author who has a recent release:
In Winter I Get Up at Night by Jane Urquhart"

That sounds really good. I’m already really curious about the famous scientist that is not named in the book. She calls him Harp.

[Nicole R]

I think I am going to read the Champagne Letters by Kate McIntosh.

I little googling revealed that she lives in Vancouver, and I have been looking forward to this read!

[Jen K]

NancyJ wrote: "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 [b..."

Thanks Nancy and I am back though sick after burning myself out with work and touring. It was worth it though!

[annapi]

Rachel N. wrote: "Theresa wrote: "I loved Mexican Gothic as did many others. Good discussion. I have not been impressed with Louise Penney though I am distinctly in the minority and only read the first. Did not hate..."

I'm in that minority! I've read about 5-6 of the Gamache series and just can't get into the character or her style of writing. I find it a bit manipulative of the reader's feelings and not subtly either. I did love the TV show, though, it's much better than the books!

[Karin]

Robin P wrote: "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."

Farley Mowat has other with animals on the cover and/or in the name if you have other animals as prompts anywhere (Owls in the Family, People of the Deer, Never Cry Wolf, A Whale for the Killing, Woman in the Mists: The Story of Dian Fossey and the Mountain Gorillas of Africa.)

[Karin]

Joanne wrote: "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 thi..."

I can't find it anymore, either! My library no longer has it, unless I bought it and forgot? I can't remember and will have to take a look. It's on Amazon, but of course that's not the library, my main book source. I just picked up the first book in the series from my library today (not from my library, but it came from another.)

[NancyJ]

Ghost of a Rose wrote: "I’m happy with this tag!

I recommend anything and everything by Margaret Atwood.

I’m planning to read:
The Glass Hotel, by Emily St. John-Mandel The Glass Hotel
The Penelopiad, by..."

I loved The Glass Hotel, though many prefer the author’s other books. The book has many more topics than the financial crime. I hope you love it too. I reread Penelopiad after reading the Odyssey this year and I found it wickedly funny.

[NancyJ]

Kim wrote: "I recently found the Ellie McLellan Genealogy Mystery Series by Beth Farrar. The series is based in Canada, Ellie is a genealogist, researching for clients, friends and herself. I am thoroughly enj..."

I like the genealogy angle here. I found it on Hoopla audio .

[Jen]

Karin wrote: "Robin P wrote: "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."

[author:F..."

Huh.....now there's another idea. Animals are the best.

[Darci]

I've owned The Blind Assassin forever, so I'll finally give that one a read. I'm also trying to pick books that fulfill PopSugar prompts, and that one covers "a book by the oldest author in your TBR pile". Margaret Atwood is 85!

[Book Concierge]

Darci wrote: "I've owned The Blind Assassin forever, so I'll finally give that one a read. I'm also trying to pick books that fulfill PopSugar prompts, and that one covers "a book by the oldest auth..."

Just reserved this one at the library. Didn't realize how long it is. So I may not finish it in time.

[Jgrace]

The Blind Assassin has a complex book within a book, within another book structure. I think it requires concentration and patience to appreciate it. Very worth it in my opinion. A 5 star read.

[Book Concierge]

Another "perfect" banner for this month's tag, Annapi!