Fall is in full effect with golden sun rays, cold sweeping breezes, and crisp orange leaves crunching beneath our feet. This dreamy, romantic season is synonymous with the season of books. Not only is it the coziest time of year to curl up with a new read, but it’s also the season for the year’s biggest releases.
We’ve lined up a collection of brand-new, hot-off-the-press, and highly anticipated BC books to nestle up with this autumn, with a variety of genres so you can read lamplit poetry in bed, gripping novels on cafe benches, and memoirs about Jane Goodall at breakfast.
Poetry
if: prey, then: huntress: poems by Christina Shah (Nightwood Editions)
From the publisher: From a poet working in heavy industry comes an eclectic collection of observations and experiences as a woman on the road and out in the field in traditionally male-dominated environments. if: prey, then: huntress is an exploration of vulnerability, agency, and existential homelessness, replete with portraits of beer drinkers and hellraisers and urban landscapes. These poems illuminate the beauty and truth amid the concrete, the twisted metal, and the scraped knuckles.
Out now
The Time of Falling Apart by Wendy Donawa (Harbour Publishing)
From the Publisher: In a voice that shifts from ironic and quirky to contemplative and speculative, The Time of Falling Apart follows the poet through the inevitable passage of memory and time, and a search for meaning in a world rife with injustice. Without a traditional faith to navigate the horrors and wonders of life on earth, Wendy Donawa lingers with small beauties in a spiritual quest to keep love alive in a “darkening world.” Elegiac, meditative, and unwaveringly kind, this collection is for anyone who has felt unable to reconcile the implacable passing of time but is determined to recognize love and beauty wherever they may be found.
Out now
th book uv lost passwords 1 by bill bissett (Talonbooks)
From the publisher: a novel uv pomes threding thru each othr th main charaktrs langwage n all uv us hedding off in all direksyuns ths book asks is langwage lost wev had creativ langwage almost 7 thousand yeers we still dont undr stand each othr veree well dew we want 2 thru th mysteree loves n rapturs speek
Coming soon
November, November by Isabella Wang (Nightwood Editions)
From the publisher: Written across the span of four Novembers, this collection delivers a send-off to “loved poets” who are no longer with us. Dedicated as letters and long epistolary lyrics to those who are missing a loved one, November, November acknowledges poetry’s “palpitating vulnerable form,” and how sometimes a poem might be the only comfort that resides between silence and grief. Isabella Wang’s second collection began as a tribute to the late Phyllis Webb, and was completed in the aftermath of Wang’s cancer diagnosis.
Out now
I Would Like to Say Thank You by Joseph Dandurand (Harbour Publishing)
From the publisher: Building on his legacy as a skilled storyteller, Dandurand continues to write about trauma, love, grief and forgiveness. These poems are about the streets, the East Side, self-pity, spirits and Dandurand’s people, the Kwantlen.
Out now
No Depression in Heaven by Ryan fitzpatrick (Talonbooks)
From the publisher: Written during country music’s most recent ascent in popularity, this poetry “LP” features ten “tracks” that each tip language out of key. Dwelling on whether it is best to look backward to a seemingly better past, longing for a way to make things great again, or to stare into the abyss of the future, gambling that entry into paradise will provide release, No Depression in Heaven resolutely riffs on our latter-day anxiety, asking how we respond to bad times and what it means to hold onto something toxic because of the comforts it affords.
Out now
Novels
Most Grievous Fault by Meg Todd (Nightwood Editions)
From the publisher: This is a startling story of a young mother desperate to deny her complicity in intergenerational trauma. Through unflinching and unsentimental prose, Meg Todd delivers a story about being inescapably marginalized and the complexities of the social welfare system.
Out now
Anarchists in Love by Robert Hough (Douglas & McIntyre)
From the publisher: In this compelling novel, acclaimed author Robert Hough recreates the political violence and revolutionary idealism that flowed through New York City during the Gilded Age of the 1890s. At its centre are real-life revolutionists Emma Goldman and Alexander “Sasha” Berkman, whose passionate love affair fuels their commitment to creating a better world.
Out now
Connection to Land and Animals
The Beaver Manifesto: Conservation, Conflict, and the Future of Wetlands by Glynnis Hood (Rocky Mountain Books)
From the publisher: A compelling book that explores the conflict between beavers and human development, urging us to rethink our approach to environmental management. In this intriguing little book, Glynnis Hood tells the remarkable story of beavers—nature’s architects and a keystone species that has survived ice ages, droughts, the fur trade, and urbanization.
Out now
Wilderness Mother: A Memoir of 13 Years off the Grid by Deanna Barnhardt Kawatski (Ronsdale Press)
From the publisher: Revised and updated 30th anniversary edition of the wilderness classic of raising a young family in the remote wilds of northern Canada. In 1978 Deanna met her hermit husband in Northern B.C. while she was working as a forestry lookout attendant. For the next thirteen years she led the life of a pioneering mother in the wilderness. Over a hundred miles from the nearest paved road and cut off from most contact with the outside world, Deanna and her husband Jay built a life and raised their children in the stunning beauty and staggering isolation of the Ningunsaw Valley.
Coming soon
Sisters of the Jungle: The Trailblazing Women Who Shaped the Study of Wild Primates by Dr. Keriann McGoogan (Douglas and McIntyre)
From the publisher: A scientist’s memoir that delves into the history of primate field studies and the women who shaped the discipline of primatology, including Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, Birutė Galdikas and Alison Jolly.
Out now
Canadian History & Politics
Unceded: Understanding British Columbia’s Colonial Past and Why It Matters Now by George Abbott (UBC Press)
From the publisher: Unceded brings to light the BC government’s long history of injustice toward First Nations, offering insights into land claims and current reconciliation efforts. Former cabinet minister George M. Abbott combines archival research with an insider’s perspective on government to chronicle over 150 years of BC-Indigenous relations.
Out now
A Sign of the Times: The Best of the Penthouse Marquee Benjamin Jackson With: Aaron Chapman (Anvil Press)
From the publisher: With full-colour photographs from the nightclub’s archives, interviews and memories from nightclub staff, as well as some of the people who have been the subject of the sign itself, Sign of the Times showcases a look back at a unique and irreverent icon that has unexpectedly become a modern expression of Vancouver itself.
Coming soon
War Resisters by Joline Martin (Caitlin Press)
From the publisher: War Resisters offers a contemporary perspective on the struggles and triumphs of the American Vietnam War resisters who resettled in Canada on Vancouver Island. This important collection of stories sheds light on an invisible minority, illustrating the courage it took for resisters to leave behind their friends, families, and communities with no certainty of return. Supporters on both sides of the 49th parallel showed compassion to the resisters by helping them escape the US draft and peacefully integrate into Canadian communities.
Out now
John Horgan: In His Own Words by John Horgan, Rod Mickleburgh (Harbour Publishing)
From the publisher: This candid, unvarnished memoir of British Columbia’s most popular premier reveals a legacy of enduring value to Canadian politics and culture.
Coming soon
Turmoil: The Life & Times of Philip Hankin by Michael Layland (Touchwood Editions)
From the publisher: Meticulously researched and engagingly written, Turmoil: The Life and Times of Philip Hankin follows the daring, rocky life of a world traveler, marine charter, four-time acting head of government, and larger-than-life personality who has for too long been an unseen shadow in the background of B.C.’s turbulent early history.
Coming soon
Trading Fate: How a Little-known Company Stopped British Columbia from Becoming an American State by Graeme Menzies (Heritage House Publishing)
From the publisher: This uniquely west-coast take on Canada’s origin story focuses on a long-forgotten event that nearly led to British Columbia becoming part of the United States.
Out now
Nonfiction
The Magic of Pockets by Jess Driscoll (Nine Ten Publications)
From the publisher: Ever grabbed a cute dress only to discover it has fake pockets? Or worse—no pockets at all? Welcome to the club nobody wanted to join. The Magic of Pockets reveals the shocking truth: women’s clothing lacks pockets by design. While men historically enjoyed up to 17 pockets in a single suit, women’s fashion deliberately chose silhouette over storage. It’s time to fight back—one pocket at a time. This delightfully subversive guide teaches you to pocket-fy your existing wardrobe with simple, satisfying sewing projects.
Out now
Curling Rocks!: Chronicles of the Roaring Game by John Cullen (Douglas & McIntyre)
From the publisher: Drawing on author John Cullen’s years of experience as both a stand-up comic and an elite curler, Curling Rocks! offers a lighthearted, expertly detailed look at a unique sport and its history, from the most absurd curling fashions to the most sublime matches ever played.
Coming soon
Children’s Illustrated
Up in the Blue Sky by Gianumberto Accinelli, illustrated by Giulia Zaffaroni (Orca Book Publishers)
From the publisher: With a unique vertical page-opening format, this illustrated nonfiction book allows readers to experience a journey into the sky all the way into outer space, encountering animals, weather, astronauts, and astronomical phenomena along the way.
Coming soon
The Inquisitive Raven by Richard Wagamese, illustrated by Bridget George (Douglas & McIntyre)
From the publisher: “Rueben was an inquisitive raven. Of course, all ravens are inquisitive, but Rueben was a notch above even the most curious bird.” So begins a story by beloved author Richard Wagamese, about a raven that has the whole forest talking. Some think he is nosy, but really, he is in a state of utter amazement at the world. This book is yet another example from Richard Wagamese about the power of storytelling. Beautifully illustrated with original work from Anishinaabe artist Bridget George, The Inquisitive Raven is sure to be cherished by readers of all ages.
Out now
Charlie the Matachewan Moose by Shawna Lee Corbould, Illustrated by Jessica Somers (Strong Nations Publishing)
From the publisher: This illustrated chapter book for ages 6-9 is a powerful story of friendship and self-discovery. When a young moose calf gets lost in a storm, he is found by Nana and Papa, a kind couple who offer him shelter and a name: Charlie. They bring him home to Matachewan First Nation, where two dogs, Spike and Molly, happily welcome him into their pack. Together, Charlie and his friends spend their days digging holes on the beach, playing fetch, and having fun. But Charlie is growing fast, and soon it will be time for him to return to the forest. With Spike and Molly by his side, Charlie sets off on an adventure to learn more about himself—and what it means to be a moose.
Out now