Hibernate or isolate with a good book
Edmonton authors put some big titles on our collective bookshelf last year
For the best-of local books list we ran last week, I asked booksellers Audreys Books and Glass Bookshop for their favourites of 2020. The holidays can be hectic, and timelines tight but I'm happy to follow up with Audreys' Top 10 picks with the intentional spirit of, the more exposure our local authors get, the better.
Thanks to Audreys' Sharon Budnarchuk for the scope of her list of Edmonton-area and former (indicated with asterisks) Edmonton authors, which includes numerous titles not seen in the list from myself or Glass Bookshop, which is awesome. All quotes are by Budnarchuk. For more information, visit the online store for curbside pickup and delivery at audreys.ca.
ABANDONED ALBERTA, JOE CHOWANIEC
“One of the most fascinating picture books of Alberta to come along.”
RELAX, DAMMIT: A USER'S GUIDE TO THE AGE OF ANXIETY, TIMOTHY CAULFIELD
“He takes us through a day in our life and shows us what little we really know is not based on science.”
ALWAYS BRAVE, SOMETIMES KIND, KATIE BICKELL
“A wonderful collection of connected short stories about people and the community around them.”
HERE GOES NOTHING: A NOVEL, EAMON MCGRATH*
“Named a Fall 2020 Best Indie Read by Globe and Mail, it's a gritty novel about the world of touring musicians, which Eamon knows very well.”
LIKE RUN- DRUNK ANGELS, TYLER ENFIELD
“A Western turned on its head with magical surrealism.”
IMAGE DECAY, MARK LISAC
“Set in the world of backroom politics from a writer who spent years as the Journal's provincial affairs columnist.”
GO AHEAD AND SHOOT ME! AND OTHER TRUE CASES ABOUT ORDINARY CRIMINALS, DOUG HECKBERT
“An interesting collection of stories by a former probation officer about the other side of the criminal justice system.”
ONE WITH THE SCRAGGLY BEARD, ELIZABETH WITHEY*
“A poignant story about a child who learns about homelessness, belonging and compassion by Elizabeth Withey, a former columnist with the Edmonton Journal.”
FIND FERGUS, MIKE BOLDT
“An adorable, hysterical story about finding Fergus, a bear who is not very good at hiding. Another jewel from Mike Boldt.”
HAUNTED HOSPITAL, MARTY CHAN
“A great story for young teens who like ghost stories that are creepy and full of action.” fgriwkowsky@postmedia.com Twitter: @fisheyefoto