The best books by Edmonton authors from an active 2016

A selection of local books published in 2016 on the shelf at Audreys. Fish Griwkowsky / Postmedia

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Before we talk local books as seasonal gifts, here’s some encouraging news: Audreys Books is cautiously optimistic — 2016 was a better year than the one before.

Sharon Budnarchuk, co-owner of the 41-year-old bookstore at 10702 Jasper Ave., explains: “Maybe in the next couple of years we’ll be able to heave a sigh just slightly. Things are still not easy, but they are improving. I think that has a lot to do with people living downtown, people walking by — and of course the writing community. We have so many events. I can’t remember when there was a free night here at the store.”

When asked for her choices of great locally written books from 2016, the passionate Budnarchuk summons cookbooks, non-fiction, Kate A. Boorman’s young adult series and works from the Edmonton mystery group, including Wayne Arthurson, Janice MacDonald and SG Wong.

And she beams at “the great success of Michael Hingston’s Advent Calendar of Short Stories — unique to the world.” (Unfortunately, it’s already sold out. Next year, don’t wait too long.) 

However, much remains from our river-city authors, including In Fine Style: The Dancehall Art of Wilfred Limonious (One Love Books), written by Edmonton Christopher Bateman. Find this at Blackbyrd Myoozik (10442 82 Ave.).

Though it’s not locally written, don’t overlook Notley Nation: How Alberta’s Political Upheaval Swept the Country (Dundurn Press) by Calgarians Sydney Sharpe and Don Braid. “The book is a fascinating look at the new political landscape in Alberta where women are now 47 per cent of the caucus, the highest percentage of women in Canadian history, and with Notley at the table women are the majority in cabinet,” notes Budnarchuk. 

Meanwhile, here are 10 (OK, 11) Budnarchuk and I suggest — by no means the only local books published in 2016. The bookseller describes them.

Art Lessons (Enfield & Wizenty) — Katherine Koller

“Writer and playwright Katherine Koller has written a wonderful crossover book for late teens and adults about a young girl who wants to become an artist in a family of sports nerds. It is her Polish grandmother who helps guide her to her dream.”

Blood Red Summer (Owl’s Nest Books) and Traitor of Camp 133 (Turnstone Press) — Wayne Arthurson

“For the fans of the Wayne Arthurson’s Leo Desroches mysteries set in Edmonton, Blood Red Summer is the latest, and it finds Leo in the world of diamonds from the High Arctic. But he’s also begun a new series with the Traitor of Camp 133 that’s set in a Second World War PoW camp in Lethbridge, told from the German perspective, and it hooks from the beginning.”

Edmonton Cooks: Signature Recipes from the City’s Best Chefs (Figure 1 Publishing) — Leanne Brown, Tina Faiz

“A must-have cookbook which features over 75 signature recipes from Edmonton’s best chefs, bakers, butchers and food-truckers. It includes the Duchess Bake Shop’s Key Lime Pie recipe that only has seven ingredients, the Drift Food Truck’s Pork Belly Sandwich, so delicious, and XIX Nineteen’s Ahi Tuna Twists. Beautifully presented with lots of invaluable tips from the master chefs.”

Flapper Pie and Blue Prairie Sky: A Modern Baker’s Guide to Old-Fashioned Desserts (Random House) — Karlynn Johnston

“This Edmonton food blogger, baker and recipe maker has created another must-have for your cookbook collection. It’s full of all the wonderful dessert recipes revamped for today that our mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers made. It brings back those beautiful memories of sweet-smelling kitchens and family celebrations around the table.”

Heartfire: A Winterkill Novel (Harry N. Abrams) — Kate A. Boorman

“In the final novel in the young adult trilogy Winterkill, our heroine Emmeline has left her camp to explore the world and find the truth. But in Heartfire she meets a new tribe that is preparing for war with the Dominion troops and their brutal weapons. Can she help secure their survival?”

The McDavid Effect: Connor McDavid and the New Hope for Hockey (Simon & Schuster) — Marty Klinkenberg

“This is a good book about hockey and hope. When 18-year-old Connor McDavid was signed, it was one of the key components of the renewal of the Edmonton Oilers in the new arena, a big weight for anyone’s shoulders. Learn about this remarkable young man who has his skates firmly on the ice, a great inspiration to any young person.”

Son of France (HarperCollins) — Todd Babiak

“Babiak won great acclaim — comparisons to Graham Greene and John le Carré — for his first literary thriller, Come Barbarians. Son of France, the latest Christopher Kruse novel, is just as tight, full of danger and terrorists with a little twist at the end.”

The Valiant Nellie McClung: Collected Columns by Canada’s Most Famous Suffragist (Heritage House publishing) — Barbara Smith

“In celebration of the 100th anniversary this year of women receiving the right to vote, Smith has collected the writings of Nellie McClung, Edmonton’s most famous feminist. While raising five children and writing 12 books, she helped to change the role of women in this country. This is an important book as it shows what tenacity and grit can accomplish.”

Where the Truth Lies: Collected Essays (NeWest Press) — Rudy Wiebe

“This a wonderful collections of 40 years of writing essays and speeches that reveals the man, his thought processes and his views of the world. With 25 books to his credit and two Governor Generals medals, he is Prairie icon. A must for the writer or would-be writer, and the student of Canadian literature.”

Who Will Catch Us As We Fall (Onewrold Publications) — Iman Verjee

“In her new novel, Verjee explores the intricacies of racial politics in Kenya, a country in turmoil. It’s not about racism between blacks and whites, but between Africans and Indians who arrived in Kenya during the colonial period. Even after Idi Amin ousted the Indians in 1970, many stayed. This is a sweeping epic of one of those families. It explores the politics, corruption and tradition in contemporary Nairobi, living as a minority. The characters feel real, and you can almost smell the spices, see the colourful saris.”

fgriwkowsky@edmontonjournal.com

@fisheyefoto

 

 

 

 

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