The second instalment of Read Local BC’s nine-part gift guide series
We don’t believe in guilty pleasures, especially when it comes to books. Why should a pleasure read be something to feel guilty about? 55% of Canadians read for enjoyment. Enter our Reading for Pleasure gift list, featuring cookbooks, comedy, and a vibrant, celebratory book to read with your kids. We bet there’s something joyful here for all of the giftees on your list.
Reading for Pleasure
Books to fill your belly, make you laugh, and help you celebrate.
Boonoonoonous Hair by Olive Senior, illustrations by Laura James (Tradewind Books).
In this beautifully illustrated picture book written by Commonwealth Prize—winning author Olive Senior and illustrated by the much-acclaimed artist of Anna Carries Water a little girl learns to love her difficult-to-manage curly hair.
Cedar and Salt: Vancouver Island Recipes from Forest, Farm, Field and Sea by DL Acken and Emily Lycopolus (TouchWood Editions).
Off the shore of Canada’s west coast lies a food lover’s island paradise. Vancouver Island’s temperate climate nurtures a bounty of wild foods, heritage grains, organic produce, sustainable meats and artisan-crafted edible delights. This thoughtfully curated, beautifully photographed cookbook brings Vancouver Island’s abundant food scene into the kitchens of home cooks everywhere.
I Saw Three Ships: West End Stories by Bill Richardson (Talonbooks).
From one of Canada’s most beloved personalities comes this delightful collection set around Christmastime in Vancouver’s West End neighbourhood. The eight linked stories in Bill Richardson’s I Saw Three Ships take their direction from the seasonal tug-of-war between expectation and disappointment that occurs as the light deepens. The pieces, all irresistibly funny, give shelter to characters whose experiences of transcendence leave them more alienated than consoled.
So You’re a Little Sad, So What?: Nice Things to Say to Yourself on Bad Days and Other Essays by Alicia Tobin (Arsenal Pulp Press).
With her just-right combination of sensitivity, vulnerability, and hilarity, comedian and podcaster Alicia Tobin has won fans among the biggest names in contemporary comedy, from Paul F. Tompkins to Rob Delaney. This frank, tender, and hilarious collection gives one of the brightest (and darkest) lights of Canadian live comedy room to flourish on the page, and the results are unforgettable. Grab a tissue – for either tears or allergies – and treat yourself.
The Long Table Cookbook: Plant-Based Recipes for Optimal Health by Amy Symington (Douglas & McIntyre).
A nutritious diet is key to both the prevention and management of chronic illness, but to make us feel wonderful, it must also taste wonderful—and a meal shared with family and friends is even better. Grounded in this perspective, The Long Table Cookbook makes the transition to a health-optimizing plant-based diet simple and satisfying, featuring over seventy-five recipes along with the latest evidence-based nutritional advice, meal planning suggestions and tips for hosting community gatherings.