Books of the Year 2008

Welcome to Q&Q's picks for the most important Canadian books of the year. Some are critical favourites, some are bookstore blockbusters. Some dive into difficult subjects, some are about pure pleasure. Together, these are 15 books to remember from 2008.

Start the slideshow, or click one of the links below to find out why each title was selected and for further related reading.

Fiction

» Blackstrap Hawco: Said to Be About a Newfoundland Family, Kenneth J. Harvey
» Once, Rebecca Rosenblum
» The Gargoyle, Andrew Davidson
» Cockroach, Rawi Hage
» Stunt, Claudia Dey
» Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, John McFetridge

Non-Fiction

» Payback, Margaret Atwood
» Bottomfeeder: How to Eat Ethically in a World of Vanishing Seafood, Taras Grescoe
» Dark Days: The Story of Four Canadians Tortured in the Name of Fighting Terror, Kerry Pither
» Fat: An Appreciation of a Misunderstood Ingredient, with Recipes, Jennifer McLagan

Books for Young People

» Skim, Mariko Tamaki; illustrated by Jillian Tamaki
» Before Green Gables, Budge Wilson
» Thing-Thing, Cary Fagan; illustrated by Nicolas Debon
» Bonechiller, Graham McNamee
» Ojingogo, Matthew Forsythe

Other Features

» Reader's choice
» Designer’s choice: Covers of the year
» The year that was: Notes and distinctions from the Canadian book biz in 2008