CALGARY BESTSELLERS
FICTION
1
Horse
Geraldine Brooks. Based on the remarkable true story of the record-breaking thoroughbred Lexington, Horse is a novel of art and science, love and obsession, and our unfinished reckoning with racism.
2
Wild Symphony
Dan Brown and Susan Batori. Children and adults can enjoy this timeless picture book as a traditional read-along, or can choose to listen to original musical compositions as they read with a free interactive smartphone app, which uses augmented reality to play the appropriate song for each page when a phone’s camera is held over it.
3
Denison Avenue
Daniel Innes and Christina Wong. A moving story told in visual art and fiction about gentrification, aging in place, grief, and vulnerable Chinese Canadian elders. Canada Reads 2024 shortlist. Canadian author
4
Trust
Hernan Diaz. At once an immersive story and a brilliant literary puzzle, Trust engages the reader in a quest for the truth while confronting the deceptions that often live at the heart of personal relationships, the reality-warping force of capital, and the ease with which power can manipulate facts.
5
The Women
Kristin Hannah. At once an intimate portrait of coming of age in a dangerous time and an epic tale of a nation divided.
6
Bad Cree
Jessica Johns. A haunting debut novel where dreams, family and spirits collide. Haunting, fierce, an ode to female relations and the strength found in kinship, a gripping, arresting debut by an unforgettable voice. Alberta author
7
Demon Copperhead
Barbara Kingsolver. In transposing a Victorian epic novel to the contemporary American South, Kingsolver enlists Dickens’ anger and compassion, and above all, his faith in the transformative powers of a good story.
8
Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop
Hwang Bo-reum. Surrounded by friends, writers, and the books that connect them all, Yeongju finds her new story as the Hyunam-dong Bookshop transforms into an inviting space for lost souls to rest and heal.
9
The House in the Pines
Ana Reyes. Armed with only hazy memories, a woman who long ago witnessed her friend’s mysterious death, and has since spent her life trying to forget, sets out to track down answers. What she uncovers, deep in the woods, is hardly to be believed.
10
Study for Obedience
Sarah Bernstein. With a sharp, lyrical voice, Bernstein powerfully explores questions of complicity and power, displacement and inheritance. Giller Prize winner. Canadian author
NON FICTION
1
Rogers v. Rogers: The Battle for Control of Canada’s Telecom Empire
Alexandra Posadzk. A riveting account that takes us inside the dramatic battle for control of Canada’s largest wireless carrier, and paints a broader picture of the cutthroat telecom industry. Canadian author
2
Fighting for Hanne
Mary Valentich. Canada passed assisted dying legislation in June 2016, but some obstacles remain and impede a person’s choice to die with dignity. Hanne’s receipt of a court-ordered exemption in February 2016 is one facet of Canada’s history of assisted dying. Local author
3
Regulated Classroom: “Bottom Up” Trauma-informed Teaching, Revised Edition
Emily Read Daniels. A foundational tool for educators. Through clear language and artful illustrations, the book explains the principles of the autonomic nervous system, the Polyvagal Theory, and the impacts of stress and trauma on the brain and the body.
4
The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health with Facts and Feminism
Dr. Jen Gunter.doctor brings us empowerment through knowledge by countering stubborn myths and misunderstandings about menopause with facts, science and expert advice. Canadian author
5
Truth Telling: Seven Conversations About Indigenous Life in Canada
Michelle Good. A collection of essays about the contemporary Indigenous experience in Canada. Canadian author.
6
Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants
Robin Wall Kimmerer, Monique Gray Smith, and Nicole Neidhardt. Botanist Kimmerer demonstrates how all living things provide us with gifts and lessons every day in her bestselling book Braiding Sweetgrass, which is adapted in this edition for young adults. Canadian author
7
10 Things Schools Get Wrong (and how we can get them right)
Jared Cooney Horvath and David Bott. Gripping account of the contest between John Diefenbaker and Lester Pearson, two prime ministers who fought each other relentlessly, but who between them created today’s Canada. Canadian author
8
Big Mall: Shopping for Meaning
Kate Black. Blending a history of shopping with a story of coming of age in North America’s largest and strangest mall.
9
Visual Thinking: The Hidden Gifts of People Who Think in Pictures, Patterns, and Abstractions
Temple Grandin. A landmark book that reveals, celebrates, and advocates for the special minds and contributions of visual thinkers.
10
Calgary’s Best Bike Rides
Lori Beattie. Calgary’s Best Bike Rides has something for everyone, including suggestions on where to find the best locally made ice cream, craft beer and bagels. Local author.