Books are Christmas presents that keep on giving. One you enjoy will be picked up and read again, or passed on to family or friends for their pleasure. Whether it’s the story that catches you, the history book you can keep checking facts in, the poetry you can reflect on, or the illustrated books whose photos or pictures you can enjoy over and over again, books are always good value.
Here are some just out from local publishers.
CROSSING HOME GROUND – A Grassland Odyssey Through Southern Interior British Columbia, by David Pitt-Brooke (Harbour Publishing): Reading this book is the easiest way you’ll ever find to take a 1,000-mile hiking trip through B.C.’s Interior. You’ll feel you’ve been there yourself, walking along with the author. Pitt-Brooke’s conversational style, laced with bits of interesting history about the places you’re crossing, makes this an effortless (for the reader), informative and pleasant journey.
NONE OF THIS WAS PLANNED, by Mike McCardell (Harbour Publishing): From his first beginnings as a messenger with a New York paper, to his current discoveries on Vancouver’s cats, empty beaches, tulips or whatever he comes across, McCardell always finds an interesting story, and this book is full of them. He also tells us we can, too, if we take the opportunity to look around and listen.
RED ROBINSON – The Last Deejay, by Robin Brunet (Harbour Publishing): Robinson’s career brought him contacts and friendships with many of the great recording artists of the past half-century. A disc jockey before he had a driver’s licence, he started spinning disks while still in high school and never stopped. His role model was the legendary and free-wheeling Jack Cullen. This is an interesting, nostalgic book full of musical and Vancouver stories.
BACKS TO THE WALL – The Battle of Sainte-Foy and the Conquest of Canada, by Peter MacLeod (Douglas & McIntyre): It wasn’t all decided by the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. Capturing Quebec City still left the British forces in a weakened and vulnerable position. This is the story of how the fate of Canada was decided, not just here, but by many other competing forces and events in Europe, Britain, the U.S. and our First Nations. With many first-hand accounts by contemporaries, this is fascinating book for history buffs.
CANADA – An Illustrated History (revised and expanded), by Derek Hayes (Douglas & McIntyre): Presented in 13 interesting historical chapters, beautifully and generously illustrated with actual photos, maps and drawings, this newly revised book is an excellent guided tour of our history, and good reading.
PACIFIC SEAWEEDS – A Guide to Common Seaweeds of the West Coast (updated and expanded), by Louis D. Druehl and Bridgette E. Clarkston (Harbour Publishing): From the line-drawing diagrams, to the new, clear coloured photos of each variety with descriptions, this is all you need to identify our local seaweeds, and when you do, you can harvest the edible ones and cook them using the book’s recipes.
ALL THE FINE YOUNG EAGLES – In the Cockpit with Canada’s Second World War Fighter Pilots, by David L. Bashow, second edition, updated and expanded (Douglas & McIntyre: Second World War aficionados or anyone who had relatives involved in the flying forces will find these vivid first-hand accounts fascinating. The detailed index makes it easy to find individuals, squadrons or areas, while the narrative keeps it all moving along chronologically.
THE DUENDE OF TETHERBALL – POEMS, by Tim Bowling (Nightwood Editions): In the “inspiration” definition of the title, our prize-winning Canadian poet ponders life through these poems, by turns hopeful, touching, or bleak, but always full of pictures, reminiscences and understanding of our human condition.
TIDE RIPS AND BACK EDDIES – Bill Proctor’s Tales of Blackfish Sound, by Bill Proctor & Yvonne Maximchuk (Harbour Publishing): A great book for anyone interested in our B.C. coast, from the natural history of its plants and wildlife, to stories of the lives of the characters, fishermen and loggers who lived here and plied these waters, to the methods and machinery they used, told in an easy-to-read style.
BILL REID-COLLECTED, by Martine J. Reid (Douglas & McIntyre): An short, informative story of the life of the artist, divided into the pre-, during, and post Haida art created by Reid, precedes more than 150 pages of beautiful photographs of his work, in jewellery, wood and bronze, small and monumental, that gives a rounded picture of his talent and work.
THE ART OF JEFFREY RUBINOFF, edited by James Fox (Douglas & McIntyre): Twelve art curators and writers each give their take on the work of this Canadian artist, whose stark metal abstractions are illuminated by their interpretations. Good photo illustrations.
SCOUNDRELS, DREAMERS & SECOND SONS – British Remittance Men in the Canadian West, by Mark Zuehlke (Harbour Publishing): Now back in print, this is Zeuhlke’s research into the fascinating characters that descended on B.C. for a 30-year period, to get them away from their well-to-do British parents for whom they were a disgrace. They brought their “hifalutin’ notions,” customs and hijinks to a still pretty under-civilized west. History as entertainment.
THE HEAVINESS OF THINGS THAT FLOAT, by Jennifer Manuel (Douglas & McIntyre): Though fictional, this novel is based on the author’s experiences working with First Nations communities on the Pacific Coast. The everyday life of the narrator, the nature and customs of her patients and friends, and a mystery from the past makes this an entertaining and informative read.
COLOUR THE BRITISH COLUMBIA COAST, by Yvonne Maximchuk (Harbour Publishing): A great gift for anyone young or old, who enjoys the current colouring mania, this book is special because it has a story for each of its beautiful West Coast drawings, with artist’s tips as well.
WHAT GRANDMA BUILT, by Michelle Gilman, illus. Jazmin Sasky (Harbour Publishing): For ages four to six. Bright and colourfully illustrated, it’s a story of building good family memories and connections, not just a house.
CANADA CROSSWORDS – BOOK 17, by Gwen Sjogren (Nightwood Editions): Once again our Canadian puzzle-master challenges us to hours of enjoyable puzzle solving, in 95 puzzles with Canadian-friendly clues. A great idea for your crossword fanatic friends.
THE HOLY CRAP COOKBOOK, by Corin Mullins with Claudia Howard (Douglas & McIntyre): The Sechelt innovator who created the cereal that bears the exclamatory name, has now produced a cookbook so you can make 60 more things with this product besides eat it for a nutritious breakfast. Each recipe is beautifully photographed to inspire your cookery.
Annie Boulanger contributes columns about the arts. You can reach her via our newsroom, [email protected].
