Curled Up With a Good Book and a Cup of Tea

Today is Canada Day and I thought I would share my favourite Canadian books. Now, I'm a very proud Canadian (I even have a red maple leaf tattoo) and I love all things Canadian, but I will admit that when it comes to reading I have not read much of our literature. I decided to change that this year and have challenged myself to read at least 20 Canadian books this year, and so far I have read 11. I'm glad I've done this. Even though we all came from somewhere else at some point, Canadians make up a unique identity that is evident through our literature and from that identity we get some incredible stories. My three favourite Canadian books are: The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill (the title of this book in the US is Someone Knows My Name) In the Skin of a Lion by Michael Ondaatje The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood Some other great books: Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery More by Austin Clarke How to be Canadian by Will Ferguson A Complicated Ki...

Today is the UNHCR's World Refugee Day. The theme this year is "They have taken my home, but they can't take my future." What beautiful words. From the UNHCR website - "While most refugees want to go home, some cannot safely return. But wherever they are, refugees will always strive to pick up the pieces and start over. The courage and determination demonstrated during their darkest hours will serve them well in rebuilding a new life. On World Refugee Day, let us honour them for these qualities and recognise the richness and diversity they bring to our societies." Here is my suggested reading for this day: A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier - Ishmael Beah Infidel - Ayaan Hirsi Ali Left To Tell and Led by Faith - Immaculee Ilibagiza Six Months in Sudan: A Young Doctor in a War-torn Village - James Maskalyk The Bite of the Mango - Mariatu Kamara Tears of the Desert - A Memoir of Survival in Darfur - Halima Bahshir What Is The What - Dave Eg...

I read quite a few books in 2009 but five really stood out. 1. "The Book of Negroes" by Lawrence Hill (2007) A young girl is abducted from her home in West Africa and forced into slavery in the US. She later gains freedom in Canada and gets her name into the Book of Negroes, earning her way home to Africa as an adult. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant historical fiction. Examines the issue of slavery in Africa, the United States and Canada and presents a side of the story lost in the history textbooks. (Also titled "Someone Knows My Name" in the US.) 2. "Push" by Sapphire (1997) The book that has been made into the movie "Precious." A heartbreaking and redeeming story of a young women who is up against all odds. Her life is tragic and you cannot imagine anyone having to endure what she does, but this story also shows the power we have to not only rise above our circumstances but to help others rise above their circumstances. A must-read...