5 More Books to Read Before You Die – Part 2

6. All The Pretty Girls – Now I may be a bit bias on this one, Chandra Mayor is my mentor and friend. She is also however, an amazingly talented author that is not afraid to tell it like it is. What I love most about her writing style is that she can tell a tale of utter brutality with beautiful and poetic words. All The Pretty Girls is a collection of short stories about the lives of a group of women. Some are struggling with poverty or domestic abuse. All are struggling with parts of themselves. I loved all these women, cared about their struggles and admired their strength that we would all hope to have in their situations.
7. Lessons From a Nude Man – Now again with the bias, I know this lady and I’m very proud to know this lady. One of my favourite Winnipeg authors and people, I first read her work in Prairie Fire Magazine and immediately wanted more. I searched out her work high and low and was disappointed to find very little else. Until one glorious day she announces that finally a collection of her endlessly entertaining,beautifully written and at times heard breaking short stories will be published for our reading pleasure! Donna is a Boreal writer, choosing the lush landscape of the Boreal Forest for the setting of these stories. Her affection and deep connection of this place can be felt through out this whole book that I couldn’t put down but at the same time never wanted to finish because I didn’t want to leave the exquisite world she created.

8. The Lucky Ones – This is a very serious book but it is an important book that I believe should be on everyone’s must read list especially in the wake of the Syrian refugee crisis. In this book, African refugees recount their experiences of their birth countries and of immigrating to Canada. In their own words they tell of their losses, their hopes and dreams and their new lives in Canada. I feel like I know all these people personally after reading this book and I’m happy they are here.

9. The Day Tripper’s Guide To Manitoba – There is so much to see in our own back yard! Our province is so diverse from the endless prairie that turns to the rolling hills of the Pembina Valley to the lakes and legends of the Interlake. In The Day Tripper’s Guide To Manitoba Bartley Kives shows us all of the cool places to go and things to do in our own province. And trust me, they are plenty.
10. Dance Gladys Dance – This unique and original novel features the ghost of a lady who just wanted to dance. Unfortunately her well to do husband had other ideas. The ghost of Gladys then begins to “haunt”  young woman who’s given up on her dream of being an artist. This is a quirky and very enjoyable story with twists and turns and heart ache a plenty along with good humour (the novel won the Stephen Leacock medal for humour) and very real likeable and unique characters. This is definitely worth reading before you die. Or right now because there’s no better time then the present!

Love,

Miranda

“READING GIVES US SOMEPLACE TO GO WHEN WE HAVE TO STAY WHERE WE ARE.”