It’s here! The Great Canadian Blog Bash 2012 is finally here! I’m super excited to party with a bunch of other Canadian bloggers and to show off our great country. Make sure to drop by the other blogs (many are offering giveaways of great Canadian stuff) and leave a comment hereβFIVE lucky winners will receive two books from my wonderful sponsor, Polar Expressions Publishing!
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As I thought about this blog party and what I wanted to write for my “Canadian” post, I kept coming back to books.Β Yes, I love books.Β And there are a lot of great Canadian authors.Β I’m proud to know quite a few through both Inscribe Christian Writer’s Fellowship and The Word Guild, which are both Canadian organizations supporting Christian writers.Β And over the years, I’ve read a lot of Canadians books that I’ve liked.Β So here are a few of my favourite Canadian authors.
L. M. Montgomery is probably one of our best-known writers for her Anne of Green Gables series.Β I actually didn’t like Anne of Green Gables the first time I tried reading itβI found Anne too wordy.Β A few years later, I picked up the book and fell in love, like so many other readers.Β I’ve since picked up the entire collection, plus a few other Montgomery books, including my absolute favourite, Blue Castle (a beautiful be-yourself love story).
Sigmund Brouwer always makes my list of favourite writers.Β He’s written everything from children’s board books to historical fiction to YA mystery novels to westerns to contemporary to futuristic sci-fi.Β He always keeps me turning the pages and wondering what will happen nextβand how on earth he thinks up these plots.Β Right now, I’m trying to re-read his Last Disciple series in preparation for the third book in the trilogy, which released last week.
Farley Mowat is a family favourite; we had to replace our copy of The Boat That Wouldn’t Float because it was no longer a book but just a collection of loose-leaf pages.Β I first picked up his children’s fiction, Owls in the Family, and later got into his “nonfiction” (which might be a bit fictionalized, depending on whom you ask about the facts).Β He is now in his nineties and yet still writing (Eastern Passage came out two years ago).
Betty Jane Hegerat is a modern Canadian writer who has published a short story collection, two novels, and a fiction/nonfiction book.Β I had the opportunity to meet her at an Inscribe Spring WorDshop and have since reviewed all of her books.Β Her novels amaze me for their ability to take a deep, hard look at a few characters in a very small space of time.
I’ve never read Margaret Atwood; I’ve looked at the backs of her books many times and they’ve never grabbed my attention.Β I have read Margaret Lawrence, Alice Munro, and Carol Shields and they were all worth reading once or twice.Β Robertson Davies is also a good writer.Β And then there’s older Canadian writers like Stephen Leacock whom I’ve only read excerpts of and would like to read more.
And that brings me to today’s giveaway: five winners will EACH receive a copy of The Calling: A Collection of New Canadian Poetry and Inkspots: A Collection of New Canadian Short Stories from Polar Expressions Publishing.Β Just leave a commentΒ below (with contact info) telling me who your favourite Canadian author is or what Canada makes you think about.
Contest open to residents of Canada over the age of 18 except where prohibited by law; winner will be chosen on July 1, 2012, by random.org and notified by email. The Koala Mom is not responsible for the prize or shipping.
37 Comments
Stopping by late from #TGCBB but I love you and will continue to read you.
Canada make me think of Maple Syrup!! Yum!!!!!!! All kinds of goodies made from Maple Syrup.
Ooops, forgot to add – mapleleafmommy@gmail.com
My favourite Canadian author is Charles de Lint. (I’d never heard of
Sigmund Brouwer but you made his works sound enticing, I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out.)
I love Robert Munch!! Thanks for taking part in TGCBB!
I would have to say that my favorite Canadian author is Robert Munsch my kids love his books SO MUCH!
megnate at telus dot net
One of my favorite Canadian writers would have to be Leonard Cohen. π Thanks for joining #TGCBB π
Well, he wasn’t born here, but as Canada was where he moved to and became famous I’m going to say Robert Munsch! π
Sorry forgot my e-mail.
nicolthepickle(at)hotmail(dot)com
The Blue Castle by Lucy Maud Montgomery is my very favourite book. I’ve read it at least 20 times, and my copy is fairly worn, but I still love it.
I don’t know to much about Canadian writers, but I do recognize Farley Mowat – loved his stories of the wild, L montgomery for Anne of course.
Omigosh. Those are some awesome Canadian writers. I love coming to your blog cuz I discover new authors and see some I know! Thanks for participating in TGCBB this year, we are very happy to have you!
I enjoy reading Margaret Atwood!
I think it has to be Farley Mowat! I remember having his stories read to us in school, and having to read them ourselves. It’s all apart of my childhood.
Monica – I forgot about Stuart McLean! My husband and I like his stories too.
Erika – nice to meet another Atwood fan! π
I think I would say Margaret Atwood. I haven’t read a book by her I didn’t like.
I’m going to have to look for that Blue Castle book, sounds good!
I love W.O. Mitchell, Alister MacLeod, Stuart McLean and of course Robert Munsch and L.M. Montgomery too.
Kitblu – I wonder if Atwood’s other books are easier to read? I know what you mean about hearing an author speak and then wanting to read what they’ve written. As I noted, that’s one reason I love Brouwer – I’ve heard him teach many times and he’s a good teacher too. π
We love robert munsch at our house π
Robert Munsch for sure! My daughters love hearing these stories.
Robert Munsch! And I am happy to say that I’ve gotten my kids to love his books too π
talkingmomcents(at)hotmail(dot)com
Farley Mowat
ontariohappychick at gmail dot com
I loved Anne of Green Gables so I’m going to have to say Lucy Maud Montgomery.
Like you I have not read Margaret Atwood and yet she is my favourite Canadian author (Leacock is a very close second and first for humour). I tried to read A Handmaid’s Tale but could not follow it; this was a major disappointment as I am a voracious reader.
The reason I like Atwood is due to her ‘appearances’ on CBC Radio 1. She is articulate, humourous and, at time, irreverent.
I LOVE Farley Mowat, Robertson Davies, Margaret Atwood, Margaret Laurence. So many great ones to choose from.
Regards, Sarah
Zookeeper at Journeysof TheZoo
journeysofthezoo at hotmail dot com
With 2 small children it is currently Robert Munsch!
wwcd23 at yahoo dot ca
It is without a doubt one of the greatest writers in Canada that stands out for me is Margaret Atwood. Her writing is influential and universal.
Glittergrl_2@hotmail.com
I just love Leonard Cohen’s poetry and songwriting. “Stranger Music” rocked my world as a teen. π
Thanks for such a fantastic contest, this would be so wonderful to win.
rararomp at gmail dot com
Tracy – several people have said I should try Atwood, and I really should. So maybe I’ll look up that book. π Thanks for suggesting it!
Andrea – I love books that grow old with you or can be enjoyed by readers of any age. π
Bree – I actually haven’t read any of Pierre Berton’s kids books. I didn’t know he wrote anything other than historicals. I’ll have to look for it.
Insane Mamcita – I’d forgotten about Robert Munsch. I love his book The Paperbag Princess. π
Skees and Narathip – never heard of those authors, so I’ll have to look them up. It’s always fun to discover new writers! π
I like Greg Johnson. Crazy Canadian weather. So cool!
polo_wataga at yahoo dot com
I just finished a novel by Peggy Blair called The Beggar’s Opera and loved it.
Such a unique post! Love how you highlighted Canadian authors. I have to say a favourite right now is Robert Munsch. I have kids. What can I say? hehe! As I was a YA librarian I did like a few of Linda Holeman’s books.
I love Pierre Berton. Especially the childrens book called The Secret World of Og!
breej23 at hotmail dot com
So happy to be stopping by to visit during #TGCBB!
Too many great authors to choose just one, but for sure L M Montgomery is way up there on my list. LOVED the Anne books when I was growing up and I still enjoy reading the today even though I will be 40 next year!!
WE have some fabulous writers. I happen to love Margaret Atwood, but I know her style isn’t for everyone. One of my all time favorite books of ALL time is her ORYX AND CRAKE – a sometimes disturbing, amazingly plotted, and long after thought provoking dystopian view of the world.