Defiant Spirits: The Modernist Revolution of the Group of Seven
Ross King (Douglas & McIntyre)
Although Canadian art is identified in the popular psyche with the Group of Seven, the attitude persists that the group’s work is somehow quaint, retrograde, and dated. Ross King’s Defiant Spirits not only situates Tom Thompson, A.Y. Jackson, et al. in their historical contexts, it also conveys their emerging artistic sensibilities and their desire to create an authentic Canadian art, even in the face of institutional hostility. Writing in September’s Q&Q, reviewer Andrea Carson said, By the time the group officially formed in 1920, their style was already outdated in Europe, but readers of this book will be reminded of their tremendous achievements, which provide a timeless reflection of our country’s magnificent landscape.
The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival
Johan Vaillant (Knopf Canada)
The Tiger has all the trappings of a classic man-versus-beast thriller in the vein of The Ghost and the Darkness or even Moby-Dick. Set in Russia’s remote and unimaginably harsh Far East region, the book is a masterful tale about a small community stalked by a Siberian tiger. But like John Vaillant’s previous book, The Golden Spruce (which won the 2005 Governor General’s Literary Award), it is also a meditation on man’s relationship with nature. The Tiger has already been optioned for film (Brad Pitt and director Darren Aronofsky are both attached to the project). The fact that Vaillant has managed to combine obsessive research with a Hollywood-ready narrative is testament to his supreme storytelling gifts.
The Book of Awesome
Neil Pasricha (G.P. Putnam & Sons)
Canada’s answer to Justin Halpern’s Sh*t My Dad Says, The Book of Awesome is an example of what happens when a good idea (a blog about life’s often overlooked joys) goes viral, landing its author a publishing deal. The book is packed with observational gems: the satisfaction of popping bubble wrap, the intoxicating aroma of bakery air, the illicit thrill of napping when you’re not supposed to (the list goes on). While there are those who would decry the book’s popularity as a symptom of an attention-deprived society, there’s no question its relentless enthusiasm has hit a nerve. Author Neil Pasricha wrote The Book of Awesome during a dark period in his own life; now, he’s reminding thousands of readers that the best things in life are all around us. Awesome!
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