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Original poster

Any key know any good holiday reads set in Canada?

37 replies

Crikeyblimey · 09/07/2014 21:25

Long shot, I know but we are off to Canada for 3 weeks soon (excited much???!) and I like to read at least one book set in the place I'm travelling in.

Can any of you lovely people recommend anything set in Canada? Preferably Alberts or British Colombia?

I particularly like a good thriller / crime fiction but am open to any suggestions.

Thanks.

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gailforce1 · 30/07/2014 09:43

Lots of Richard Ford books for 51p on Kindle sale I found today including Canada

mignonette · 29/07/2014 14:01

A Recipe for Bees by Gail Anderson-Dargatz (LOVED this);
Someone knows my name by Lawrence Hill;
The Birth House by Ami McKay;
The Stone Diaries / Unless by Carole Shields;
Tales of a Female Nomad: Living at Large in the World by Rita Golden Gelman;

The Girls by Lori Lansens;
Big Bear Hug by Nicholas Oldland;
One More River by Lynne Reid Banks

Libra · 20/07/2014 13:22

Louise Penny's Inspector Armand Gamache series. Just superb. Try to read them in order if possible.
They made me cry, though, so be warned.

fivepies · 20/07/2014 13:13

Vancouver by David Cruise and Alison Griffiths. It traces the history of Vancouver and British Columbia right from the time of the native peoples. Wonderful stories about the people and landscape. A bit like Edward Rutherford's novels but more evocative of place I think. I loved it.

lazydog · 20/07/2014 08:11

Nice :-) When you leave hwy 16 and turn onto hwy 5 (crossing the Fraser river)...that's right about where we are. And the smoke has gone now, thank goodness!

Original poster
Crikeyblimey · 17/07/2014 08:48

We are stopping for 1 night in Clearwater after Jasper!

We are hire car and hotelling :)

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lazydog · 16/07/2014 23:38

Sounds like you're probably passing our doorstep! PM me if you want to say "Hi!"

Although, if you're going from Jasper, straight through to the Okanagan for the next night, I guess you're going to be rushing right by the best bit of the Rockies (i.e. my area! Grin ) without time for much stopping...?

Are you RV-ing?

Original poster
Crikeyblimey · 16/07/2014 22:07

Thanks Lazy. We are staying in Banff for 4 nights and Jasper for 3 nights before headiding to Okanagan for a week and then onto Vancouver.

I'll pack for 3 seasons (weight permitting).

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lazydog · 16/07/2014 22:04

I'm right near Mt.Robson - only 1hr/100km west of Jasper, AB, but we're in BC. If you're in the mountains then, yes, definitely bring the sorts of clothes you'd be wanting in autumn time. You could get scorching heat in the day, but once the sun sets behind the mountains and you're at altitudes much higher than you're used to, the evenings will be very chilly. We've had frost overnight in August, many a time Grin

Original poster
Crikeyblimey · 16/07/2014 21:54

Is it possible to hijack my own thread??

Lazy - I know you probably aren't a metiorologist but where abouts are you and will I need cool weather clothes (long trousers and jumpers) in the Rockies in August?

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Happy36 · 16/07/2014 21:20

Margaret Atwood - The Robber Bride is set in Ontario. Also The Edible Woman although location doesn't feature much.

Douglas Kennedy - Leaving The World. Also some but not all of his other novels. Check on Amazon, Wikipedia, etc.

lazydog · 16/07/2014 21:16

We're fine at the moment - nothing burning any closer than 4hrs drive away - but the smoke is awful here so I hate to think what it's like for communities closer by... The heatwave is supposed to be over in a few days and then there's some rain forecast (hopefully without too much lightning!)

Original poster
Crikeyblimey · 16/07/2014 19:05

Oh no lazydog! Hope you're all ok (and that it rains loads in the next 3 weeks)!

Oh and thanks for all the suggestions. I shall spend a happy hour or two checking them out.

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lazydog · 16/07/2014 08:36

Have a look at The Horseman's Graves, by my neighbour - Jacqueline Baker. Set in Saskatchewan, but written in BC, LOL!

Also, I really hope we get some torrential rain soon so that you can actually get to see some of our beautiful country!! At the moment I can barely see the mountains (see my photos for how close they are) for all the smoke from huge wildfires that are raging in BC and across the border in AB... :(

Tuppenyrice · 14/07/2014 20:46

In The Skin of a Lion - Ondaatje
This book blew me away when I read it age 19.
It has stayed with me forever.
Hope you enjoy it.

Tuppenyrice · 14/07/2014 20:40

No Fixed Address by Aritha Van Herk
Fab book

MollyMaDurga · 12/07/2014 12:03

Canada by Richard Ford.

"First, I'll tell you about the robbery our parents committed. Then about the murders, which happened later."

How's that for a first line in a book?

Sweetmotherfudger · 11/07/2014 09:10

Second Anne of Green Gables

tripfiction · 11/07/2014 09:03

Glad to hear you like reading novels set in the place you are travelling (it's such a great way to get to know a place, isn't it?) Try The Missing One by Lucy Atkins www.tripfiction.com/books/the-missing-one/ for BC

The Lucky Elephant Restaurant by Garry Ryan www.tripfiction.com/books/the-lucky-elephant-restaurant/ for Alberta or The Outlander by Gil Amdamson

Hope you find something great to read!

MrsRTea · 09/07/2014 22:54

Oh, please read all Mary Lawson's books. They are amazing.

kweggie · 09/07/2014 22:53

'Y' by Marjorie Celona, it's set on Vancouver Island British Colombia. The title is very clever and it's a gripping story about a young girl's quest to find out about her past. You'll cry.

mellicauli · 09/07/2014 22:45

Shipping News by Annie Proulx is set in Newfoundland.

Uptheairymountain · 09/07/2014 22:35

Slow typist x-posting Blush

Uptheairymountain · 09/07/2014 22:31

Thriller and crome, you say?

The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney is pretty good. Or Margaret Jennings' series Murdoch Mysteries (as on TV).

Original poster
Crikeyblimey · 09/07/2014 22:26

Wow! Thanks everyone.

I'm off to peruse.

I like the sound of 'haunting'!

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