The CBC Books 2018 holiday gift guide
Looking for the perfect present this holiday season? We've got you covered!
For the sports fan
They might like: Cujo by Curtis Joseph with Kirstie McLellan Day
What it's about: Curtis Joseph grew up in an institution for mentally ill patients run by his adoptive parents and then went on to spend 19 seasons playing in the NHL as a goalie for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames. He delves into how his childhood paved the way for his hockey career in his new autobiography Cujo: The Untold Story of My Life On and Off the Ice. In this revealing memoir, Joseph talks about his highly unusual upbringing and what led him to put on his first pair of skates.
For the mystery lover
They might like: Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny
What it's about: Armand Gamache, former head of the Sûreté du Québec, has a new mystery on his hands. An elderly woman he's never met before has named him one of the executors of her will and the contents are extremely strange, eventually leading to the shocking discovery of a dead body. Meanwhile, an internal investigation into the events that led to Armand's suspension is underway and deadly opioids threaten to hit the streets of Montreal.
For the foodie
They might like: The Measure of My Powers by Jackie Kai Ellis
What it's about: In her memoir, The Measure of My Powers, baker Jackie Kai Ellis writes about her struggles with mental health and describes her journey to self-acceptance. The book also weaves in recipes that represent important moments in her life.
For the music lover
They might like: Buffy Sainte-Marie by Andrea Warner
What it's about: Music critic and CBC Music producer Andrea Warner drew from over 60 hours of interviews with iconic Cree singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie for this authorized biography. The book goes deep into Sainte-Marie's childhood and through her storied career as a groundbreaking artist and tireless Indigenous activist who won an Oscar and was blacklisted by two U.S. presidents.
For the science fiction & fantasy fan
They might like: Trickster Drift by Eden Robinson
What it's about: Trickster Drift is the follow-up to Eden Robinson's 2017 Scotiabank Giller Prize-shortlisted fantasy novel Son of A Trickster. Picking up where the first book left off, Jared has sworn off drugs and alcohol in an attempt to ward off all forms of magic. While being stalked by his witch mother's violent ex David, Jared moves from Kitimat, B.C. to Vancouver in an attempt to escape all things magical — but must learn to embrace his true nature to survive.
For the pop culture guru
They might like: Most Dramatic Ever by Suzannah Showler
What it's about: Suzannah Showler digs into 16 years of The Bachelor/Bachelorette in Most Dramatic Ever, exploring how the reality show became a cultural phenomenon and a Monday night staple for millions of households. Rose by rose, Showler breaks down the game show/love story formula and draws out exactly what is so compelling about the version of romance the show sells.
For the comics collector
They might like: Godhead by Ho Che Anderson
What it's about: This gritty sci-fi graphic novel by Toronto comic creator Ho Che Anderson envisions a world where a multinational corporation has invented technology that allows them to communicate directly with God. Godhead examines the repercussions of this technology from the interpersonal all the way up to its global, scientific and religious implications.
For the comedian
They might like: Sir John A by Drew Hayden Taylor
What it's about: In a fit of anger and revenge Bobby Rabbit convinces his friend Hugh to accompany him on a mission. The plan is to exhume the bones of Sir John A. Macdonald and hold them for ransom in hopes of retrieving a medicine pouch that was taken from his grandfather at a residential school decades earlier and is now on display in a museum in England. This satirical play by Drew Hayden Taylor is a humorous examination of colonialism and the idea of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians.