The Dewey Divas and Dudes Top 5: Pamela's Picks!

I hope after all these reading suggestions your To Be Read piles are rapidly growing by now! My next list comes from Pamela Frick, a former public librarian who has been working as an adult selections specialist with Whitehots for the last two years. For Pamela, compiling this list was very difficult as she is very close to reading 100 books this year! Here are Pamela's picks:

1. The Orenda by Joseph Boyden (Penguin)

"An important, beautiful and sometimes horrendous novel of Canada’s First Nations history, as told by a masterful Canadian storyteller."

2. The Baroness: The Search for Nica, the Rebellious Rothschild by Hannah Rothschild (Knopf)

"Combining for me my love of reading and jazz is this biography of Kathleen Annie Pannonica de Koeigswarter (nee Rothschild), also known as Nica, the Jazz Baroness, told against the backdrop of her family history and the events of the twentieth century."

3. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (Morrow)

"Gaiman confronts the disparate views of adults and children as the narrator revisits the scenes of his childhood."

4. Transatlantic by Column McCann (HarperCollins)

"Seldom does a book bring me to tears but there was a moment in the final chapter when I was very close." 

5. Mr. Seldon's Map of China by Timothy Brook (Anansi)

"Brook gives us a brief view of England and China (also other trading nations such as The Netherlands and Spain) but concentrates more on the possible provenance of the map."

The Dewey Divas and Dudes Top 5: Mike's Picks!

Representing East Side Canada, I asked Mike Hamm from Bookmark Inc. in Halifax. If you're visiting Halifax, you should definitely visit this beautiful little independent bookstore. Mike's descriptions alone make me want to read these books! Here are his picks:

1. The Orenda by Joseph Boyden (Penguin)

"As an already devoted fan of Boyden, I was so very hungry for this book. Once finished, I had the feeling that this was another instant Canadian classic. Never have I been so immersed in the geography of setting. The writing is again incredibly assured and magnificent."

2. The Misfortunates by Dimitri Verhulst (Portobello Books Ltd) 

"A Belgian Dutch writer recounts the lives of a family of brothers who drink, watch TV, carouse, fight, sleep and then drink some more and the one son who sees the possibility of a world outside his uncles' influence. For those who love the gritty realistic humour of Roddy Doyle. And amazing insights into human nature."

3. The Dinner by Herman Koch (Hogarth)

"A small story in terms of locales and the characters' physical movement but huge in it's discussion of responsibility and parenting. The central mystery of the novel, largely revealed as two couples meet in a high end restaurant, has a very sad connection to an actual recent event in my province of Nova Scotia. For this reason among many others, The Dinner has resonated greatly with me this year."

4. A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra (Hogarth)

"War-time atrocities are uncovered in a ravaged Chechnya as an urban doctor and small town widower take on the care of a frightened young girl. The subject matter is dark and emotionally challenging but this is a writer of singular talent. There are paragraphs that stopped me in my tracks. I let them wash over me and then I reread them. At times like these, I marvelled at the terrible beauty of Marra's words."

5. The Universe Versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extence (Redhook)

"For those of you who adore Mark Haddon and enjoyed The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry, this is the book for you. A meteorite crashes through the roof of young Alex's house, he suffers a resultant coma but ends up gaining the friendship of a crotchety yet caring elderly man. Through Alex's encounters with bullying, euthanasia and a Kurt Vonnegut bookclub, this book's sheer magic shines through. And who can deny the literary greatness of this author's name!"

The Dewey Divas and Dudes Top 5: Chris' Picks!

If you love sci-fi and fantasy and you haven't visited Bakka Phoenix Books in Toronto, then you are missing out! Bakka Phoenix Books is the oldest sci-fi/fantasy bookstore in Canada and it is amazing! I called on the manager, Chris Szego, for her top picks of the year. I knew she was a trusted and well-read source but can you believe she reads on average 10 books a week?! While I am beyond impressed (and slightly jealous) she warned me that it was very difficult for her to only pick five. Here are her picks:

1. Written in Red: A Novel of the Others by Anne Bishop (Roc Hardcover)

"A thoroughly enjoyable urban fantasy in which humans are not the dominant species on the planet. A fun read: I'm looking forward to the next book in the series."

2. An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth by Chris Hadfield (Random House) 

"I say this unironically, as an adult: Chris Hadfield is my hero.

His intelligence, humour, and above all his sheer delight in his work is a constant inspiration. Read this book."

3. A Face Like Glass by Frances Hardinge (MacMillan)

"Hardinge's impressive originality is on full display in this story about the underground city of Caverna. The city's denizens can create wines to make you forget your dreams; perfumes to send you to sleep, and cheeses that can kill -- but they cannot make any facial expressions until they are taught how. Into this world falls young Neverfell, whose face reflects everything that she feels... and Caverna will never be the same."

4. Royal Airs by Sharon Shinn (Ace Hardcover) 

"Josetta may be a princess, but she will not allow her entire life to be eaten by court intrigue. Rafe is a gambler who is looking to make something more of his life. When they meet, the world will change in ways they can't even imagine. I already want more."

5. An Inquiry Into Love and Death by Simone St. James (NAL Trade)

"In post WWI England, a young woman encounters a number of mysteries when she travels to a small town to settle the affairs of her recently deceased uncle. Beautifully written, with a definite feel for the historical period. (And Canadian!)"

  

The Dewey Divas and Dudes Top 5: Ron's Picks!

I keep hearing about how difficult it's been for each of my Top 5 contributors to narrow their favorites and I don't blame them. There have been so many amazing books in 2013! The next list of recommendations comes from Ron Stadnik, Print Manager at Library Bound in Waterloo. Here are his top picks:

1. The Deep Whatsis by Peter Mattei (HarperCollins)

"Mad Men meets Fight Club by way of American Psycho."

2. A Map of Tulsa by Benjamin Lytal (Penguin)

"Coming of age tale by a first time novelist; quite possibly the best reviewed book of adult fiction this year. A reminder of why I love the work I do."

3. With Charity for All by Ken Stern (Doubleday)

"An expose of the seldom scrutinized state of the charitable/non-profit sector in the U.S. An absolute must read, I just wish for a book that looked at the situation in Canada, although I sadly suspect it would be analogous."

4. Hell-Bent: Obsession, Pain and the Search for Something Like Transcendence in Competitive Yoga by Benjamin Lorr (St. Martin's Press)

"Part transformative memoir, part expose of yoga guru Bikram Choudhury, this is at its heart a look at obsession, which makes it for readers of The Orchid Thief as much as anyone that can't through the day without a downward facing dog."

5. The Circle by Dave Eggers (Knopf Canada)

"For readers of Walker Percy and fans of Christopher Hitchens, this would make a great book club pick. With apologies to Timothy Leary, I hope it’ll make inspire people to  “turn off, unplug, drop out” or at least examine the role of technology in their lives more closely."
  

The Dewey Divas and Dudes Top 5 Books: Linda's Picks!

Let's continue with our Top Books of 2013! These recommendations have been very helpful to me so far, reminding me of those books that have fallen off my radar, and helping me out with those tough-to-buy-for people on my list. Next, I called on Linda Ludke, librarian and children's materials selector of the London Public Library. As a trusted book lover, I knew I could count on her for some fantastic titles and this time we are starting to see some repeats (they must be that good!). Here are Linda's picks:

1. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell (St. Martin's Press)

"This swoon-worthy book brought me back to a time when love often blossomed with the exchange of a mix tape. I would sit with these characters on a bus trip any day." 








2. The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B by Teresa Toren (Doubleday)

"I liked how Adam wasn’t just defined by his OCD- he was also a teen in love, a son dealing with divorce.  It was very realistic and at times laugh-out-loud funny."








3. Jane, the Fox and Me by Fanny Britt, Illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault (House of Anansi)

"There are so many beautifully created, quiet scenes in this graphic novel that pack an emotional wallop. Arsenault’s illustrations are as eloquent as ever."

4. Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan (Penguin)

"Willow Chance’s story of grief and loss and love is so incredibly touching.  She is a character I kept thinking about long after I put the book down."

5. That is Not a Good Idea by Mo Willems (HarperCollins)

"This book is a silent movie that stars a dastardly fox villain, a wide-eyed ingénue goose and an audience of wing-flapping chicks. Mo Willems’ comedic timing is brilliant."

The Dewey Divas and Dudes Top 5 Books: Ken's Picks!

Here we go again! This time I called on Ken Setterington, Renaissance Man, for his top 5 books of the year. Ken was recently interviewed by Shelagh Rogers on CBC Radio's The Next Chapter where he discussed his new book, Branded by the Pink Triangle. He even took time out of his vacay on the beach to write this list! Here are his picks:

1. The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B by Teresa Toten (Doubleday)

"Without question a most worthy recipient of this year's Governor General's Award. This was a book that really nails respect for teens and the challenges that they face, but it does so with humour and compassion."

2. The Hidden Agenda of Sigrid Sugden by Jill MacLean (Fitzhenry & Whiteside)

"It is surprising that a book with a cover that looks like it is about a young naturalist or ornithologist is actually about a girl who is trying to escape her past bullying ways. Thoughtful and demanding of the reader.  Love the book - hate the cover!"

3. Bones Never Lie: How Forensics Helps Solve History's Mysteries by Elizabeth MacLeod (Annick Press)

"This is the sort of book that will appeal to all readers, male and female. The simple, straight forward text tells how forensics have been useful uncovering historical truths."

4. Learn to Speak Film: A Guide to Creating, Promoting and Screening Your Films by Michael Glassbourg (Owlkids)

"Who hasn't wanted to make their own film?  This book tells the reader how to get started and how to make a film from beginning to end.  Love that the screening is included as part of the process!"

5. The Four Seasons of Patrick by Susan Hughes (Red Deer Press)

"In a short simple chapter book Susan Hughes lets a young reader share with Patrick the fears, annoyance and challenges of becoming part of a blended family. Hughes really understands the realities facing young children."

Introducing the Dewey Divas and Dudes Top Picks of the Year: Rachel's Pick!

It's hard to believe it's that time of year again... Soon the malls will be filled with carols and garland and the holiday craziness will be upon us! That's why we thought it would be perfect timing to introduce to you top picks of the year from some of our trustworthy book professionals to bring you their top books of the year, and maybe help you with your holiday gift giving this season. Our first recommendations come from Rachel Seigel, Sales and Selection Strategist at EDU Reference Publishers Direct. Rachel also has a blog: http://readingtimbits.blogspot.com and contributes regularly to www.publishingcrawl.com.
Here are her top 5 picks of 2013:

1. Carnivores by Aaron Reynolds (Chronicle Books)

"A clever and wickedly funny picture book told from the point of view of a timber wolf, a great white shark and a lion, who lament that they are misunderstood and wrongly judged." 

2. Grafitti Knight by Karen Bass (Pajama Press)

"This book is a fast-paced page-turner and compelling historical fiction for tweens and teens. It contains just the right mix of adventure and suspense to keep readers interested, and is one of my favourite novels this year."

3. Pi in the Sky by Wendy Mass (Little Brown Books for Young Readers)

"Her characterizations are spot-on, and I love the combination of science, math and humour, and the sense of wonder she creates about learning.  A perfect middle-grade read."

4. This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith (Hachette)

"Think Notting Hill but with teens and in a book. It’s a book that just makes you smile when you read it." 

5. That's Not a Good Idea by Mo Willems (HarperCollins)

"Filled with humour and clever illustrations, this book is exactly what you’d expect from the creator of Pigeon and Elephant & Piggie."

TD Canadian Children's Book Week 2014

Applications are now open for the 2014 TD Canadian Children's Book Week! This year, the theme is Read to Remember, and will commemorate the 100th anniversary of World War I. In May, 29 authors, illustrators and storytellers will tour the country. If you are a school, library, bookstore or community centre that would like to host, click here to apply. Tours include amazing interactive readings, writing workshops and contests for children from Kindergarten to Grade 12. This program has such an amazing outreach to aspiring readers and writers. Last year, over 400 readings were given, connecting with more than 25,000 children nation wide. How amazing is that? Book Week runs from May 3-May 10th, 2014. As I mentioned in a previous post, many fantastic authors, illustrators and storytellers are participating. Click here to see a list of tour participants and locations. Don't wait though...the application deadline is December 31, 2013!

Perv, by Jesse Bering on CBC Radio's Q

In his book, Perv: The Sexual Deviant in All of Us, psychologist and writer Jesse Bering challenges the social and psychological biases when it comes to sexuality. Growing up gay in Washington, DC during the time of the AIDS crisis, society saw Bering as a sexual deviant. In his book, he uses his experiences and the emotional scars he has carried with him to suggest that society needs steer away from questions of what is natural and normal, and consider what is harmful instead. Bering was recently discussed his book on CBC Radio's Q, with guest interviewer Piya Chattopadhyay. To listen to the full interview, click here.

PW's Best Children's Fiction Books of 2013

Publishers Weekly released their list of Best Children's Fiction Books of 2013 and believe me, there are some really good picks! You might recognize some of the featured books from this blog, such as Eleanor & Park and Boxers and Saints. Other titles include the fantastic Far Far Away by Tom McNeal and Tony Cliff's stunning graphic novel, Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant. To check out the full list, click here and you may find some great ideas for your young readers!

An inside look at STAINED by Cheryl Rainfield

Cheryl Rainfield writes the books she needed as a teen and couldn't find. In Stained, her fourth YA novel, Sarah, who has a port wine stain and some body image issues, is abducted and must find a way to rescue herself. Like Sarah, Cheryl had to rely on her own strength to survive many threatening situations. Earlier this fall, Cheryl spoke to a group of teenagers at Indigo Yorkdale. Cheryl spoke very passionately and strongly, and her personal story and reading were remarkably powerful. A self-defence seminar/demonstration was also part of this event.

Stained recently received a four-star review in CM Magazine. Cheryl is scheduled to make an appearance at OLA Super Conference at the Thomas Allen & Son booth. Follow Thomas Allen & Son on Twitter for more information.

Stained by Cheryl Rainfield

$20.99, hardcover

ISBN: 9780547942087

Publication date: October 1, 2013

Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Distributed in Canada by Thomas Allen & Son

Lainey Lui Reviews Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor and Park

The feelings are unanimous in our Ampersand office: Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor and Park is our favourite young adult book of the year! Maybe its the amazing 80's pop culture references or the challenges of first-love romance that help us relate so well. Author Rainbow Rowell recently visited Toronto for a series of readings and was reviewed (and interviewed) by the one and only gossip entertainment blogger Lainey Lui! Her review is so fantastic I just had to share my favourite part:

"Here’s my only complaint about the book: since I read it on my iPad, I couldn’t properly hug it. Hugging an iPad isn’t the same as hugging a real book. And as corny as it sounds, it deserves to be hugged." - Lainey

To read Lainey's awesome review in full, click here.

DK Canada's Handful of Bricks 10 Minute Challenge!

Every office has their own way of motivating staff moral, but DK Canada's most recent efforts definitely take the cake! To celebrate the publication of the LEGO Play Book, they have issued a challenge to their co-workers with the Handful of Bricks 10 Minute Challenge. DK offices worldwide are challenged to design and build their best Lego creation in just 10 minutes using only a handful of pieces! The best part: it's a contest and the public is encouraged to vote for their favourite masterpiece! 

Not only can you vote for your favourite creation here, but you can also share your own. At Ampersand, we keep motivated with The 200 Squat Challenge. This contest seems much more enjoyable to me, so get building people!

Canada Reads 2014 Top 10!

It's back! CBC Books asked their yearly question: what is the one novel that could change Canada? Hundreds of recommendations from across the country and across many genres were submitted, and many trusted readers helped narrow it down to a Top 40 List. Now, the Top 10 List has been announced and it is up to the Canada Reads judge panel to decide! I'm glad I don't have to pick a favourite out of this amazing list! Some of the titles belong to authors Margaret Atwood, Joseph Boyden, and Cory Doctorow. The panelists are reading the Top 10 now, and will reveal themselves and their favourite book of choice in the popular debate on November 27th, hosted by my favourite, Jian Ghomeshi. To view the full Top 10 List, click here.

Vancouver Listed as Lonely Planet's Top 10 Cities to Travel 2014

Lonely Planet is known for their stunningly detailed travel sites and tour guides. Their most recent book, Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2014 was just released and has created quite the buzz here in Canada. Why, you ask? Because Vancouver, British Columbia was listed as #7 in the Top 10 Best Cities in the World to visit! Having visited Vancouver many times, I don't doubt this ranking for a second (and that's not just the Canadian pride in me!). The book highlights Vancouver's endless supply of adventure, from swimming in the Pacific to skiing down Whistler and everything in between and even declares "boredom is not permitted here!" 

To check out the rest of the Top 10 List, click here.

Behind the Humans of New York

You might remember my previous post about the book, Humans of New York by Brandon Stanton. Since the book's October release, the media has flocked toward Stanton, photographer and creator of this blog-based phenomenon and I wanted to share it again. Stanton's goal is simple: ask someone if he can photograph them and then conduct a short interview. This approach has created over 300 stunning photographs and countless stories of human confessions, fears, hopes and sorrow now featured in print.

Stanton shared his most memorable moment with an 80-year-old woman, one that left him crying (and me tearful!) in the streets of New York City, on CBC Radio Q with Jian Ghomeshi. I highly recommend listening to this interview as Stanton shares more of his inspiration for Humans of New York.

The Future and Libraries According to Neil Gaiman

"We have an obligation to imagine." - Neil Gaiman 

Neil Gaiman's latest, The Ocean at the End of the Lane is one of my favourite books this fall. With his book fresh in my mind, I read
his recent Reading Agency lecture in England and couldn't agree more with his top arguments defending children's literacy, the freedom to read and the importance of libraries.

When you consider the recent Banned Books Week last month, I think advocates like Neil Gaiman are beneficial to promoting the freedom for children to read what they want, when they want. Although he admits to allowing his 11-year-old to read Stephen King's Carrie probably too soon, Gaiman argues the more we shelter our children from books, the less appealing reading will become for them. He also makes a clever analogy that printed books are like sharks - who have existed before and outlived dinosaurs, because there's nothing like them. In the wise words of Neil Gaiman, real books are "good at being books and there will always be a place for them."

I couldn't have said it any better! To read more about Gaiman's lecture, click here. 

Win an Eyewitness Travel Prize Pack with DK Canada!

DK Canada, publisher of the great Eyewitness Travel books, is giving one lucky winner the chance to win an amazing Eyewitness Travel Prize Pack! I've taken these books along on some of my own trips and they are amazing! The contest runs until November 4th, 2013 at 6:00pm so hurry up and enter now!

Scaredy Squirrel Prepares for Halloween!

 

My favourite little squirrel is back at it again, and just in time for Halloween! As we prepare the kids for a night of costumes, candy and craziness, it's important to stay safe. Watch Scaredy Squirrel's Halloween Safety Public Service Announcement, an adorable video for all your safety tips or pick up a copy of my favourite, Scaredy Squirrel Prepares for Halloween.

Have a happy (and safe) Halloween everybody! 

A Look Inside Ampersand Inc. Toronto

Ampersand Inc.'s last intern, Jenny, had the office to herself one afternoon with no one around her but the books. Sounds like a book lover's paradise, right? Check out the video below to see how she kept busy! 

A look inside the Ampersand Inc. Toronto office...

Boxers & Saints by Gene Luen Yang

Have you heard about Boxers & Saints? It was recently named to the long list for the National Book Award in young people’s literature. I am very excited about this two-volume graphic novel that took 6 years to make! Author and artist Gene Luen Yang recently visited The Toronto Public Library as part of  Raincoast's Young Adult Library Tour where he spent the day with a group of one hundred local students.

To read about Yang's inspiration and challenges for the books on TPL Teens, click here.