9 Canadian must-reads coming out this year

Feb 12 2017, 12:10 pm

A new year marks new beginnings, but more importantly, it means that there are a myriad of new television shows, films, and books on offer.

The coming spring and summer months will see the release of some exciting new books written by Canadian authors. Whether you are looking to dive into a world of mind-boggling alternate realities or an emotional story about a dysfunctional family, this year’s releases of Canadian books has something for all readers.

Check out our list of must-read Canadian books that are releasing (or have already been released) in the first half of 2017.

The Chosen Maiden

Image: Penguin Random House

Author: Eva Stachniak
Publisher: Doubleday Canada
Publishing Date: January 17, 2017

Perfect for all ballet aficionados, The Chosen Maiden tells a fictional story about the Nijinsky siblings, the most celebrated ballet dancers of the 20th Century. The story focuses on the sister, Bronia Nijinksy, who struggles to chart her own path as a dancer against the eclipsing success of her brother in the world of ballet. Set during the First World War and the Russian Revolution, Stachniak’s book explores the Nijinskys’ journey in the world of art in the middle of political turmoil.

All Our Wrong Todays

Image: Penguin Random House

Author: Elan Mastai
Publisher: Dutton
Publishing Date: February 7, 2017

This may be one of the most exciting Canadian books coming out in 2017. In All Our Wrong Todays, Mastai creates a fictional world where it is possible to time travel to an alternate reality. The book is set in two different versions of 2016. One version is a utopian, futuristic world where all our fantasies of what the future looks like are true while the other is our real, comparatively downtrodden version of 2016. A perfect read for anyone having a hard time waiting for the second season of Stranger Things.

Son of a Trickster

Image: Penguin Random House

Author: Eden Robinson
Publisher: Knopf Canada
Publishing Date: February 7, 2017

In true Eden Robinson style, Son of a Trickster is a story about family dysfunction with elements of magic realism and fantasy. Robinson hails from BC’s Haisla First Nation and her works often beautifully reflect the mystical aspects of Haisla culture. Son of a Trickster is a story about a young boy, Jared, who grapples with his mom’s troubled lifestyle, his own dependency on drugs and alcohol, as well as his strange ability to communicate with ravens.

Among the Ruins

Image: Macmillan

Author: Ausma Zehanat Khan
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publishing Date: February 14, 2017

If you are into international politics, conspiracy, and detective fiction, Among The Ruins is for you. Khan’s book follows the story of a Muslim-Canadian detective from the Community Policing department who is pulled in to a high-profile murder investigation of an Iranian-Canadian filmmaker while on a visit to Iran. Among The Ruins is a third in a series of detective novels by Khan but the stand-alone plot means that it can easily be read by itself.

So Much Love

Image: Penguin Random House

Author: Rebecca Rosenblum
Publisher: McClelland & Stewart
Publishing Date: March 14, 2017

If you are a fan of the British television series, Broadchurch, or the widely acclaimed novel and film, Room, this book is for you. So Much Love centres on a woman’s abduction, her time spent in captivity, and the cascading effects of all these events on a small community. Rosenblum is a seasoned short-fiction writer from Ontario. So Much Love will mark her first foray into novel writing.

American War

Image: Penguin Random House

Author: Omar El Akkad
Publisher: Knopf
Publishing Date: April 4, 2017

Perhaps one of the most unnerving books of the year, American War is set in a dystopian United States several decades into the future. Akkad’s book paints a rather bleak picture of a futuristic America that is ravaged by a civil war, a deadly epidemic, environmental disasters, and population displacement. Given its timeliness and relevancy to our current global political climate, American War will without doubt be one of the more popular reads this year.

Roughneck

Image: Simon and Schuster

Author: Jeff Lemire
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Publishing Date: April 2017

Jeff Lemire is a well-known name in the world of comic books, having won a number of accolades for his previous works. His forthcoming graphic novel, Roughneck, is also anticipated to be a bestseller. It revolves around a pair of troubled siblings of Cree heritage who re-unite after several years apart. Turns out that they are also being hunted by the sister’s abusive ex-boyfriend.

The Three Pleasures

Image: Anvil Press

Author: Terry Watada
Publisher: Anvil Press
Publishing Date: Mid-June, 2017

Set in Vancouver during the Second World War, The Three Pleasures presents a fictionalized account of what life was like for the Japanese community in the city prior to the establishment of internment camps. Even though there have several books written about this turbulent period in world history, The Three Pleasures offers a unique story line about three Japanese men each of whom desire a certain form of pleasure which in effect leads to their downfall.

Someone You Love is Gone

Image: Penguin Random House

Author: Gurjinder Basran
Publisher: Viking
Publishing Date: August 2017

Written by Delta, BC author Gurjinder Basran, Someone You Love follows the story of Simran whose world coming crashing down when her mother dies forcing her to confront her failing relationships and her painful past. Keep a Kleenex handy because this book is sure to be an emotional roller coaster.

Harleen KhanguraHarleen Khangura

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