The 8 List: Oh Canada

I have an English literature degree, which means I have read a lot of books. Attending school in Canada means that I have read a lot of Canadian books. For some reason, Canadian literature has a reputation of being dreadfully boring. I remember groaning back in elementary and high school whenever our teacher mentioned that a book was written by a Canadian author. However, I quickly learned in University that Canadian literature is anything but boring and even the classics are quite good.

#1 THE WARS BY TIMOTHY FINDLEY (1977)

War. Horses. Photographs.

#2 THE DIVINERS BY MARGARET LAURENCE (1974)

Writing. Water. Family.

#3 KISS OF THE FUR QUEEN BY TOMSON HIGHWAY (1998)

Brothers. Trickster. Residential school.

#4 WILD GEESE BY MARTHA OSTENSO (1925)

Teaching. Prairies. Loneliness.

#5 LIVES OF GIRLS AND WOMEN BY ALICE MUNRO (1971)

Family. Womanhood. Coming-of-age.

#6 A COMPLICATED KINDNESS BY MIRIAM TOEWS (2004)

Religion. Family. Coming-of-age.

#7 THE HANDMAID'S TALE BY MARGARET ATWOOD (1985)

Feminism. Dystopia. Satire.

#8 THE COLLECTED WORKS OF BILLY THE KID BY MICHAEL ONDAATJE (1974)

Poetry. Prose. Images.