November 1, 2009 BC Bestsellers
Adult Titles
1. Trauma Farm: A Rebel History of Rural Life Brian Brett 9781553654742 Greystone Books
An irreverent and illuminating journey through a day in the life of the affectionately named Trauma Farm, with numerous side trips into the natural history of farming. Brett tells a story that’s poetic, passionate, practical, and frequently hilarious, providing an unforgettable portrait of one farm and our separation from the natural world, as well as a common-sense analysis of rural life.
2. Whitewater Cooks at Home Shelley Adams 978-0-9811424-0-1 Alicon Holdings Ltd.
FINALLY – a stunning new collection of tasty treats! These recipes, like snowflakes – each one unique, each one dancing out of the heavens to melt on our tongues- have been gathered with love from friends, family, local celebrities and the ‘box in the back’ of the Fresh Tracks Cafe to ensure that for years to come, Whitewater Cooks at Home.
3. The Expanded Reilly Method Mike McCardell 9781550175004 Harbour Publishing
In his 2008 book, Getting to the Bubble, McCardell described meeting the inspirational figure behind the Method, an autistic nine-year-old named Reilly, who had a sensationally runny nose and was perfectly convinced he could catch a fish in a polluted urban pond with a stick and a piece of string. Over the following year McCardell tried to face down deadline terrors and impatient bosses by imitating Reilly’s unshakeable faith—and found it worked. Sort of. Most of the time. If you held your brain the right way.
4. Mountain Timber: The Comox Logging Company in the Vancouver Island Mountains Richard Somerset Mackie 9781550391718 Sono Nis Press
On one level the story of loggers and their machines – cold deckers, skidders, geared locies and many more- Mountain Timber is also a dense and engrossing social history of central Island in the mid-20th century. The book’s nine chapters alternate revealingly between logging and social history: between working landscapes and the communities they supported. A stunning visual feast, this richly illustrated history contains 340 photographs of the men, women, families and communities supported by logging.
5. Six String Nation: 64 Pieces. 6 Strings. 1 Canada. 1 Guitar. Jowi Taylor 9781553653936 Douglas & McIntyre
The Six String Nation guitar, Voyageur, is made from sixty-seven pieces of Canadian history: Pierre Trudeau’s canoe paddle is a tone bar, the Grey Nuns convent in Winnipeg—once a classroom to Louis Riel—makes up the back and sides, Paul Henderson’s hockey stick from the 1972 Canada-Russia Summit Series is a detail on the pickguard, the sacred Golden Spruce of Haida Gwaii forms the top face and gold from Maurice Richard’s 1955–56 Stanley Cup ring adorns the ninth fret. Thanks to a crazed determination to share this guitar and his impassioned vision of Canada with as many Canadians as possible, Jowi Taylor has taken the guitar to festivals, conferences, schools and community events, from sea to sea to sea.
6. One More Time: The Dal Richards Story Dal Richards & Jim Taylor 9781550174922 Harbour Publishing
Dal Richards and author Jim Taylor recount the life story of the legendary bandleader in One More Time: The Dal Richards Story. These are Dal’s memories of the stars and the wannabes, the hustlers and bootleggers and hat-check chicks, all of whom paraded through his life in the days when Vancouver’s nightclub scene rivaled San Francisco’s and Hollywood’s big-name performers made it a regular tour stop.
7. The Encyclopedia of Raincoast Place Names: A Complete Reference to Coastal British Columbia Andrew Scott 9781550174847 Harbour Publishing
In 1909 Captain John T. Walbran published one of the most beloved and enduring of all BC books, British Columbia Coast Names. Harbour Publishing celebrates the hundredth anniversary of that landmark work by presenting the first book to update Walbran’s classic, Andrew Scott’s Raincoast Place Names. Like its progenitor, Raincoast Place Names is much more than simply a catalogue of name origins because it tells the often fascinating stories behind the names and in so doing serves as a history of the region in capsule form.
8. Climbing Patrick’s Mountain Des Kennedy 9781897142394 Brindle & Glass
Climbing Patrick’s Mountain is bestselling author Des Kennedy’s haunting and elegant tale about coming to terms with one’s past. Expatriate Irishman Patrick Gallagher, an accomplished but eccentric breeder of prized roses, returns to Ireland as a celebrity host to lead a tour of Irish gardens, and hopes to attract the eye of a wealthy patron to donate funds to his garden back home. What is planned to be a pleasant and lucrative trip soon becomes a voyage of overcoming a painful history as the protagonist encounters the very reasons he left Ireland in the first place. Just as Patrick begins to reconcile with his demons, time runs out in a poignant conclusion. A vivid coming-of-middle-age story set in today’s Ireland, Climbing Patrick’s Mountain embraces the contradictory but inseparable twins of the Irish sensibility: grand humour in the face of ultimate tragedy.
9. Everyday Indian: 100 Fast, Fresh and Healthy Recipes Bal Arneson 9781552859483 Whitecap Books
This exciting new cookbook introduces a modern concept in Indian cuisine-it can be simple, quick and delicious. With most of the healthy recipes in Everyday Indian: 100 Fast, Fresh, and Healthy Recipes ready in less than 25 minutes, Bal Arneson proves that Indian cooking doesn’t have to be complicated. Her recipes use everyday spices and common techniques to create simply mouthwatering dishes that the novice cook and experienced home chef alike can whip up at home.
10. Birds of Interior BC and the Rockies Richard Cannings, et. al. 9781894974592 Heritage House
Birdwatching is one of Canada’s most popular activities, but many field guides are so comprehensive or advanced that they intimidate novice birders. Covering the region north of the U.S. border, south of Prince George, east of Manning Park and west into the Rockies, Birds of Interior BC and the Rockies is for beginning and intermediate birders who wish to identify the birds they regularly spot in this area. However, the book will also appeal to more experienced local and visiting birders who want to learn more about the behaviour, habitat and seasonal occurrence of local birds.
Children’s Titles
1. Miga, Quatchi and/et Sumi: The Story of the Vancouver 2010 Mascots Michael Murphy & Vicki Wong 9781552859582 Whitecap Books
This is a very colourful and heartwarming story profiling the three chosen mascots and their sidekick for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics and Paralympics. The mascots were inspired by the legends of the Pacific Northwest First Nations. Miga, a sea bear, Quatchi, a sasquatch, Sumi, a guardian spirit, and Mukmuk, a marmot are all described in terms of habitat, diet, activities and how they were chosen for the 2010 Olympics and Paralympics. The entire story is written in both English and French with full-page illustrations. Additional information regarding the Olympics and Paralympics is provided with pictures of all events. This book is co-published with VANOC.
2. A Field Guide to the Identification of Pebbles Eileen Van der Flier-Keller 9781550173956 Harbour Publishing
Have you ever been walking at the beach and wondered what that pebble or rock is, or do you ever wonder what stories rocks tell? If so, then this is the guide for you. The Field Guide to the Identification of Pebbles, a full colour, laminated, accordion folded, easy to use guide with over 80 beautiful photographs of pebbles from beaches and rivers. Use the photos to identify over 28 different types of rocks and minerals.
3. A Field Guide to Seashells and Shellfish of the Pacific Northwest Rick M. Harbo 9781550174175 Harbour Publishing
There are few more enjoyable ways to spend a relaxing afternoon than at the seashore collecting ornate seashells. But there is no need to fly away to some exotic tropical locale to begin the fun. If you are in the Pacific Northwest, you will find local beaches as rich in fascinating treasures as any place on earth—or at least you will once you have this handy eight-fold guide to show you where to look and how to identify what you find. Those whose interest in shellfish is mainly gastronomic will also find this waterproof guide an essential tool.
4. Storm Boy Paul Owen Lewis 9781552852682 Whitecap Books
In the storm-tossed seas along the rugged Northwest Coast, an Indian boy is thrown from his canoe into a great mystery. Washed ashore before an unfamiliar village, the boy finds his arrival has been eagerly awaited by the strange and giant “people” there. Just who are these beings? And what do they intend for their guest? What follows both answers — and deepens the mystery. Careful attention is paid to historical detail both in the story and in the vibrant illustrations. Storm Boy follows the rich mythic traditions of the Haida, Tlingit, and other Native peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast, whose stories often tell of individuals cast mysteriously into parallel worlds inhabited by animals in human form.
5. Welcome Song for Baby Richard Van Camp 9781551436616 Orca Book Publishers
From renowned First Nations storyteller Richard Van Camp comes a lyrical lullaby for newborns. Complemented with stunning photographs, this evocative board book is perfectly suited as a first book for every baby.
* This list is compiled using data provided by TBM BookManager Ltd.
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