8 books actor and Canada Reads panellist Kaniehtiio Horn loved reading
Kaniehtiio "Tiio" Horn is a Canadian actor from Kahnawake, the Mohawk reserve outside of Montreal. She stars as Mari in the highly anticipated National Geographic series Barkskins, based on the 2016 bestselling novel of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Annie Proulx, and currently appears in the critically acclaimed comedy series, Letterkenny, created by fellow Canadian Jacob Tierney.
Kaniehtiio Horn is defending Son of a Trickster by Eden Robinson on Canada Reads 2020.
Canada Reads 2020 will take place July 20-23.
The self-described bookworm told CBC Books she remembers "reading a lot" growing up. Here are the eight books Horn loved reading.
The Rain Door by Russell Hoban, illustrated by Quentin Blake
"This book was one that my dad read to me before bed every single night. Quentin Blake illustrated it — he's the artist who did all of Roald Dahl's books.
Quentin Blake illustrated it — he's the artist who did all of Roald Dahl's books.- Kaniehtiio Horn
"I loved it. It was about a junk wagon that controlled weather. It was really cool for my imagination."
The Lady with the Alligator Purse by Nadine Bernard Westcott
"I ended up memorizing this book. I think it impacted me because it was right around when I learned how to read myself. It's in verse, so it was easy to memorize.
"I remember I was so proud of myself because I used to be able to say it from memory from beginning to end."
Ribbon Rescue by Robert Munsch, illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes
"Robert Munsch was inspired to write this about one of my best friends. Her name is Gillian. She is Mohawk and was wearing a traditional ribbon dress. And she's from where I'm from. That for me was incredible to see.
He sat there and he made up this entire story based on her ribbon dress then ended up publishing a book based on that.- Kaniehtiio Horn
"We all know Robert Munsch and his books. He told me he was listening to him talk somewhere and then he commented on what her and her brothers and sisters were wearing.
"He sat there and he made up this entire story based on her ribbon dress then ended up publishing a book based on that. I thought that was really cool."
Me and My Dad by Mercer Mayer
"This is another book that I read with my dad. I loved it as well."
Angel Square by Brian Doyle
"He's out of Ottawa. I remember loving the fact that I was attracted to stories that didn't take place in a faraway land. They took place where I was.
I remember loving the fact that I was attracted to stories that didn't take place in a faraway land.- Kaniehtiio Horn
"I am familiar with Ottawa, my dad is there, my family is there — and then like with Ribbon Rescue, it's about this young girl on my reserve. That was really cool to see."
Trainspotting and Porno by Irvine Welsh
"When I got older, I went through a phase of Irvine Welsh's books. I loved Trainspotting and Porno. I loved the way he wrote every character in a different style. You could read it and you had to get into the rhythm of the accents and how they sounded.
Welsh's characters are dirty, gross and the stories are gritty. I love that.- Kaniehtiio Horn
"As an actor, that was really interesting. He could embody these people that you're reading about. Welsh's characters are dirty, gross and the stories are gritty. I love that."
The Snowman by Jo Nesbø
"I made a conscious decision a few years ago to start reading again. I felt like my vocabulary was going down the drain and I needed to read books again, not just scripts.
You wonder how all this dark stuff came out of his brain.- Kaniehtiio Horn
"I wanted to read fiction again and I'm attracted to the dark stuff, I guess. I like Jo Nesbø. I've got really into him and his weird Scandinavian true crime that's just twisted. You wonder how all this dark stuff came out of his brain."
Kaniehtiio Horn's comments have been edited for length and clarity.
The Canada Reads 2020 contenders
- Alayna Fender defending Small Game Hunting at the Local Coward Gun Club by Megan Gail Coles
- Akil Augustine defending Radicalized by Cory Doctorow
- Amanda Brugel defending We Have Always Been Here by Samra Habib
- Kaniehtiio Horn defending Son of a Trickster by Eden Robinson
- George Canyon defending From the Ashes by Jesse Thistle
