SUMMER READING LIST
Get acquainted with local authors
There's always time for a good book in the summer.
That's especially true this month as we count down the days until our vaccination coverage kicks in, the borders reopen and fun things like festivals and celebrations are allowed again.
Of course, for many people, reading was a salvation during the long, lonely days of lockdown, a trend that was observed by the folks at Perfect Books, the independent and recently expanded shop on Elgin Street. After weathering the pedestrian-deterring construction on the street, what kept the business afloat during the pandemic was a contingent of book lovers who made a point of shopping local.
“The community was really supportive during the pandemic,” said manager Michael Varty. “Our online service and deliveries, and curbside pickup, all worked very nicely. People supported us in a tremendous way.”
What's more, they read anything they could get their hands on.
“Just a wide range of books were being read, everything from War and Peace right down to summer-reading fluff,” Varty added.
Not that every Ottawan is eager to devour fluff in the summer. One characteristic of our book-loving populace is the willingness to dive into weighty tomes that explore aspects of history, medicine, science or economics.
“They like to dig into the issues,” Varty said of his customers. “Summer is a good time to sit around and think about things, but maybe not things like pandemics and American politics. Good non-fiction is a way to be engaged but tune out the noise that surrounds us.”
There was also a select group of Ottawa-area residents who spent the pandemic putting finishing touches on their own books, including several important works of non-fiction that will be of interest to the erudite Ottawa readership.
At the top of that list is Mark Carney's Value(s): Building a Better World For All. The Rockcliffe resident, former governor of the Bank of England, and governor of the Bank of Canada before that, has penned an opus contending that the rise of a market-driven society has resulted in a decline of values. It's a national bestseller and a Very Important Book, to be sure, but it's also 600 pages, and the first half is a slog through the history of economics.
You could spend what's left of the summer plowing through it. Or you can do what I did — give it a break and check out some of the other titles published by Ottawa-area authors this year.
Between what's crossed my desk and Varty's keen eye for a good read, we've compiled a reading list to get you through the rest of the summer — and hopefully, the pandemic.
FICTION Letters From Johnny Wayne Ng Guernica Editions
The Ottawa social worker and blogger takes us into the life of young Johnny, who's growing up in downtown Toronto in the 1970s, through a series of letters, written first to a pen pal and then to his hockey hero, Dave Keon. It's an illuminating look at the everyday struggles of a Chinese-Canadian family, coupled with the gripping details of a murder next door and the backdrop of the FLQ crisis.
A Life of Bliss Don Butler Ottawa Press and Publishing
The first novel by the retired Ottawa Citizen staffer takes a timid travel editor on a supernatural quest from the comfort zone of his desk in the Ottawa newsroom to a far-flung corner of Greece. A fun and engaging read filled with eccentric characters, it makes ideal, escapist summer fare.
Safe Harbour Mike Martin Ottawa Press and Publishing
In the 10th Sgt. Windflower mystery, our hero, an RCMP officer of Cree heritage, has taken a desk job in foggy St. John's, where he's troubled by the number of missing girls and the response of local police. Like all the Windflower mysteries, it's a page-turner that bookstore
SCIENCE The Joy of Sweat: The Strange Science of Perspiration
Sarah Everts
Norton
In her first book, the Carleton University journalism prof describes the bodily function as “sticky, stinky and gross,” but proceeds to fascinate with a conversational mix of science, myth-busting and cultural differences on the perception of perspiration.
Lyme Disease, Ticks and You: A Guide to Navigating Tick Bites, Lyme Disease and Other Tick-borne Infections
Shelley Ball
Firefly Books
A former university professor and research scientist, Ball is a freshwater insect ecologist who lives near the tick hot spot of Westport, Ont. She's a longterm Lyme sufferer who became determined to help others by reviewing the science to come up with a primer on tick-borne diseases. Essential reading for anyone who spends time outdoors in Eastern Ontario.
CULTURE
Anything But a Still Life:
The Art and Lives of Molly Lamb and Bruno Bobak
Nathan M. Greenfield
Goose Lane Editions
In his latest book, the esteemed military historian turns his attention to a married couple that consisted of two of Canada's most important 20th-century artists — Molly was the only official female war artist, while her husband Bruno was the youngest. Based on Molly's 30-yearlong diary, the book also includes colour reproductions of many of their paintings.
Reel Ottawa: A Memoir
Dan Lalande
Ottawa Press and Publishing
The Ottawa writer of television shows, plays and feature films reflects on the influence of movies in his childhood, crafting a thoughtful memoir that takes us back to the heyday of cinema in the nation's capital.
Timeless Emily Carr: Quotations for Life
Laurie Carter
Little White Publishing
After living in B.C. for more than two decades and writing a trilogy exploring the province where iconic artist Emily Carr lived, Laurie Carter moved to Merrickville, bringing her passion for the artist with her. Now she's paying tribute to the 150th anniversary of Carr's birth with a lovely collection of quotations that illustrate the wit, wisdom and character of Canada's most famous female painter.
OUTDOORS
Hiking Trails of Ottawa, the National Capital Region and Beyond
Michael Haynes
Goose Lane Editions
The second edition of a hiking guide first published in 2010 has had some changes but still provides a useful overview of the best trails in Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec, including urban routes within the Greenbelt. Colour photos and maps included.
Ontario Picnics:
A Century of Dining Outdoors Lindy Mechefske
MacIntyre Purcell Publishing
In the black-and-white photographs of this pictorial history of picnicking, you'll be struck by the formal attire of the folks eating outdoors. While the author, a food columnist, is not an Ottawa-based writer, we've included her book because of the rare archival images depicting spots in Eastern Ontario, including Ottawa, Carleton Place and North Gower. It's a great idea that's been skilfully executed with an eye for inclusivity.
Ottawa Road Trips:
Your 100 km Getaway Guide Laura Byrne Paquet
Ottawa Press and Publishing
With 20 years' experience in writing about the region, and a few years blogging about it (ottawaroadtrips.com), Byrne Paquet is the authority on getting away from the Ottawa-Gatineau metropolis. This book compiles her favourite local destinations within 100 kilometres, including many that are accessible by bicycle.
BUSINESS
Leadership Moments from NASA: Achieving the Impossible
Dr. Dave Williams and Elizabeth Howell ECW Press
The Canadian astronaut teams up with the Ottawa-based space journalist to examine the leadership styles of NASA executives over 50 years of sending humans to space, coming up with lessons on teamwork and corporate culture.
Billion Dollar Start-Up: The True Story of How a Couple of 29-YearOlds Turned $35,000 into a $1,000,000,000 Cannabis Company
Adam Miron, Sébastien St-Louis, Julie Beun ECW Press
See what it was like on the ground floor of Canada's cannabis gold rush in this compelling tale of two young, risk-taking entrepreneurs and the hoops they jumped through to launch their business.
HISTORY
In The Company of Sisters: Canada's Women in the War Zone, 1914-1919
Dianne Graves
Robin Brass Studio
A meticulously researched overview of the experience of Canadian women during the First World War, based on personal diaries, newspaper reporting and other archival sources, illustrated with dozens of photographs.