2022 was another great year for BC’s book industry. Weathering the storm of the pandemic with crafty innovation and stellar talent, our province’s bookmakers and booksellers offered up a long list of books for all ages and interests.
Here at Read Local BC, we want to highlight our favourite posts from 2022 as we gear up for another great year of books, news, and events from our local scene!
Liberation through storytelling: An Interview with Patricia Massy of Massy Books
Massy Books is a staple of Vancouver’s independent reading and literary community. Read Local BC had the chance to speak with Massy Books’ eponymous founder Patricia Massy about the business and pleasure of selling books.
Seven BC Writers on the Poets They Love
Every year, we celebrate National Poetry Month by interviewing a group of poets on their recent collections. Poet Rob Taylor, our interviewer, asked these writers about their favourite poets. Here from Arleen Paré, Laura Farina, Andrew Chesham, Ellie Sawatzky, shauna paull, W.M. Herring, and Jónína Kirton.
Asian Canadian Voices
Asian Canadian voices are an integral thread in BC’s literary fabric. Here is a collection of poetry, memoirs, children’s books, and histories by some of our province’s most notable writers including Larissa Lai, Mahtab Narsimhan, and Kai Cheng Thom.
Meet Your Bookseller: Building Community, One Book at a Time
With its stacked shelves and friendly and knowledgeable staff, cozy Port Coquitlam bookstore Western Sky Books is a haven for any book lover. Owner Tamara Gorin shares her story about transforming environmental concerns into concrete action in this profile which will inspire you to put this bookshop on your must-see list!
Comics and Graphic Novels for Readers of All Ages
Stories with a visual element have always been popular, and local publishers and retailers have a treasure trove of books to choose from. We highlight comics and graphic novels across ages and genres in this post, which also has a list of favourite BC spots where you can go to buy them!
My Body Knows More Than I Do: An Interview with Jónína Kirton
Rob Taylor interviewed Jónína Kirton about her poetry collection Standing in a River of Time for National Poetry Month in April last year. The poetry collection has also been listed as one of CBC Books’ Best Canadian Poetry Collections of 2022. Read the full interview with Kirton for an engaging conversation about ancestral memory, hybrid literary forms, and pushing past one’s comfort zone.
Young Changemakers
Here’s a perfect list to inspire the child or young adult in your life! These books feature future leaders and activists from local communities and around the world.