I have never before participated in Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. I have fun reading everyone else’s lists, and have often been tempted to join in. But, today, the topic is so easy, and has been something I’ve been thinking about anyway. So…
The Top Ten (Canadian) books on my Fall TBR:
- The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood – How can I not?
2. Martin John by Anakana Schofield – I loved Malarky and this one has been long-listed for the Scotiabank Giller Prize. I have to admit that I just finished it, but I’m counting it anyway!
3. The Winter Family by Cliff Jackman – This has also been long-listed for the Giller Prize, and I have it on hold at the library.
4. The Birthday Lunch by Joan Clark – This one is also on hold at the library, so I hope I’ll be reading it, and that I won’t get bogged down when all my holds come in at once. It will be my first Joan Clark.
5. The Illegal by Lawrence Hill – The new book out by the author of The Book of Negroes. I hope it’s as good, but that would be tough.
6. Every Blade of Grass by Thomas Wharton – I liked what Laura had to say about this one on Goodreads, so I put in a request for it at the library. Looks like it will be in soon!
7. Creation by Katherine Govier – The Signature of All Things and The Voyage of the Narwhal have me craving more historical novels about scientists. This one is about Audubon.
8. Sisters in the Wilderness by Charlotte Gray – A non-fiction book about Susanna Moodie and Catherine Parr Traill. I tend to put off the non-fiction books (even the ones I really want to read), so I’ll be happy if I get to this one.
9. Barometer Rising by Hugh MacLennan – A classic book about the Halifax Explosion, and the one I really should have read by now.
10. Whatever book I decide to read next for my A-Z CanLit Project. I’m on letter ‘O’.
What are you reading this Fall?
Consumed by Ink 
I don’t think The Heart Goes Last is one of Atwood’s best, but as always, it’s at least interesting. Gosh, I am not familiar with a single other thing on your list!
That’s funny. After I made my list, I was thinking it seemed too predictable. I’m glad to hear it’s not. 🙂
You’re the second person to hint at the mediocrity of The Heart Goes Last. Hmm… I will keep that in mind.
I’m not so sure I’d call it mediocre. It is certainly eccentric. It is also not my favorite Atwood. I think my review is due to be posted soon.
I’ll be watching for it!!
Yes, it’ll be up somewhere around October 12.
Naomi! I actually have things to say about CanLit! WHA?! I’m like a new person.
Have you read any of Lawrence Hill’s other books besides The Book of Negroes? Because I will honestly read ANYTHING he writes. His book Any Known Blood is exquisite, I loved every second of it. I cannot wait to read The Illegal. You should definitely read the Charlotte Gray – I read her book The Massey Murder. She’s a bit like Erik Larson, with the novelistic style non-fiction she writes.
Yay for CanLit! I haven’t read Any Known Blood (why? I don’t know, because I loved Book of Negroes and have owned Any Known Blood for a while now with the intention of reading it. The story of my life, I guess). I have The Illegal on hold at the library, though, which means I’m likely to actually read it. 🙂
I would also like to read Black Berry, Sweet Juice. My sister recomends that one.
I really hope I get to Charlotte Gray’s book, too. I thought if I put it on my list, I might be more likely to, right?
I have to take a look at Creation and Sisters in the Wilderness. Those both sound very good. I have so many books on my fall TBR, it’s not even funny. I am still determined to finish my reading challenges for the year, so I will concentrate on those books. Unless some others come along that distract me. 🙂 How did you like The Voyage of the Narwhal?
Loved The Voyage of the Narwhal! I just haven’t finished writing about it yet (since it’s not a library book, it keeps getting pushed off).
This list is just the Canadian books on my to-read list. There are many more that are not Canadian, so we’ll see how well I do with this list. 🙂
Good luck with yours!
This is a great Canadian reading list. Thank you for the suggestions. I too haven’t yet read Barometer Rising, but plan to before this year ends.
Giving out book suggestions is what I love to do! Happy reading! 🙂
I love your focus on Canadian Literature, Naomi! It always introduces me to new books/authors. Which reminds me, I have Against A Darkening Sky to anticipate reading…soon (?!?), too! Yikes!! So many books…so little time!! 🙂
Can’t wait to hear what you think of that one! But, yes, I hear you about too little time. 🙂
I didn’t know Lawrence Hill has another book – I will definitely have to find the Illegal
Yes, you will!
Love this! Definitely going to do some hunting and see what’s available here in the US (or coming soon).
I hope some are available. Happy Hunting!
How did you like Martin John, Naomi? After finishing Undermajordomo Minor and Fifteen Dogs in the past few weeks, reading the full Giller longlist might not be as out of reach as I’d thought! Also, I can’t wait to hear what you think of The Heart Goes Last – I absolutely LOVED it. The Illegal is on my list too! I hope I can get to it soon!
It’s good to hear you loved The Heart Goes Last – I am hearing some mixed reactions so far.
Martin John was so well done. Be ready for a little discomfort, though.
I loved Fifteen Dogs. What did you think?
I don’t think I’m going to get to Undermajordomo Minor before the shortlist comes out. Maybe after. How did you find it?
I didn’t make it to the new deWitt novel either (too many library holds at the same time!) but I did really enjoy the interview with him and Shelagh Rogers on CBC’s “The Next Chapter” recently. It helped take the sting out of having had to return the book! (I’ll read it eventually.)
The priority line for which books I want to read next are changing constantly as more and more prize lists come out. I find it dizzying!
I love your list! I started The Illegal a few days ago and it may have been my mood, but I shed a few tears about 24 pages in. So far it has the makings of a very good book, I’m impressed with it already. I really need to check out Anakana Schofield’s work since you and Laura are so keen on her.
I’m glad to hear you’re liking The Illegal so far. In my opinion, tears are a good sign. 🙂
If you haven’t already, I would recommend starting with Malarky. It’ll give you a feel for the way she writes before heading into Martin John’s mind.
This is why I love posts like this: I’m aware of so many new titles. Thank you!
Glad you found something new to check out! 🙂
There are quite a few books in this list I can’t wait to read too! The Illegal is THERE on my bookshelf staring at me 🙂 I was so impatient to read it that I even pre-ordered it. I also want to read as many Giller prize’s long-list books as I can, so Martin Johns and The Family Winter are on my TBR list too.
My next Canadian read will probably be Fifteen Dogs by André Alexis, though!
That’s a good one – enjoy!
When I realized I had already read 4 of the longlisted books, I thought it would be fun to read a few more and see how far I get. I almost never read even close to all of them. I just picked up The Winter Family from the library, but I haven’t started it yet.
Hi. I’m planning on hearing Lawrence Hill speak at our annual book festival in two weeks so it’ll be interesting to see what he says about The Illegal. I’ll definitely get a signed copy for my fall reading!
Oh, have fun! I would love to be there!
Great list! I will definitely check these out.
Love your list! I will happily adopt it. Especially the last one, which is a gap in my TBR too. There are only three I’ve read (Birthday Lunch, Winter Family and the Charlotte Gray), and each is good enough to reread for sure! Have you chosen your ‘O’ yet?
I think I’m going to go with The Skin of a Lion, but that decision could change right up until it’s time for me to read it. 🙂
I actually just finished reading Barometer Rising a few days ago. I feel both proud and foolish about it at the same time. Once I started reading it, I realized I had read it before. So, I looked it up in my notebook that does not lie (even if my memory if failing me), and it looks like I read it about 10 years ago, right after baby #3 was born. So, that explains the forgetfulness, right? Anyway, I decided to keep on reading, of course, and it was very good. It would be good to have someone to discuss it with, though. (hint) 😉
I’ve had that happen too, and around the ten-year mark as well. Maybe there is an unspoken reset button after a certain amount of time, varying for each reader! I’m still looking in its direction, but I’m waffling.
Good luck with your O,whichever it might be. What about Katrina Onstad, Grace O’Connell, Martha Ostenso, Keith Oatley, Alix Ohlin, or, oh! Kenneth Oppel — a bat story would be perfect in October!?!
I love Kenneth Oppel – I did actually consider him. Katrina Onstad is not at my library (sometimes that’s how I make my decisions), I’ve never heard of O’Connell or Ostenso (so, thanks!), some of Oatley’s stuff looks interesting, I have already read Ohlin’s Inside (and liked it!). I also know that I have several of Ondaatje’s books on my shelves and I should really read one of them. 🙂
Thanks for the suggestions!